Pattern and Principles: Full Devotion

Pattern and Principles: Full Devotion

Pattern and Principles: Full Devotion

Matt. 22: 37 – Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

One of the things that separated those whom God elevated (there is a difference in when God elevates you or human puts you in position of authority – never confuse both) is their full devotion. King David and Paul the apostle come to mind (among many), as two whose heart/soul (mind, will and emotion) are totally sold out to God.

However, the Bible also allowed us insight into the lives of those who served God half-heartedly, actually the OT and NT reading today, point to such people. In the OT it was king Solomon, in 1 Kings 3: 3 the bible said “Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incenses on the high places”. In the NT, it was Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5: 1-2 “Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles feet”.

It is easy to see the half-hearted devotion of king Solomon and this couple (Ananias and Sapphira), and the consequence of their actions is fully reported by the Bible. God is still the same, yesterday, today and forever, He still COMMANDS “Full Devotion” from us, in-fact, twice Paul the apostle wrote quotable quotes about our full devotion – Gal. 2: 20 and Rom. 12: 1-2.

You CANNOT be devoted to whatever it is (mammon, yourself, other humans, lust of the flesh, etc.) and be devoted to God, you are either fully in, even when the road gets tough and it might cost you, or you might as well have fun on earth, knowing where you are going in after-life.

Half-hearted devotion did not work for Solomon or for Ananias and Sapphira, it won’t work for you either. By the way, halfhearted devotion in/to your marriage is REALLY BAD too.

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