I was reading an interesting article on Desiring God blog by Maxwell, when it occurred to me about the point that was being made in it. We often see devotion as something we have to give God. Thus we often look at devotion as what an inferior being gives to a superior one. We who are Christians from childhood are told often that we must be devoted to God and those of us from a Pentecostal or Arminian heritage are told that God values us on our devotion to Him. While it may be slightly true, the truth is this. God doesn't depend on us.
Let me illustrate with a personal example. My fiance is not much of a talker. So, to understand her means I would have to listen to her unspoken words, the hmm's, the nods and the facial expressions. I am sure that I am going to miss a lot of things she has not spoken to me about and more over she may fail to express in words her love and devotion to me. I now having discovered that, though it being really hard, I am getting better to appreciate her nods and hmm's.
Now, God knows we are not perfect, and more importantly He knows we don't desire Him as much as He should be desired and more over as much as we should desire to have a good life. We fail to desire God daily, hourly, and are never going to be devoted to Him as we ought to. I want to say that it's OK as in God understands that.
We have to learn a few things from God on devotion. God is devoted to saving you and me. He is for us and not against us. He is more passionate about us than we could ever find in us to be for Him. The Bible is filled with promises of God. No, they are not perks or karma filled verses. They are statements that God tells even before we decided to love Him.
Here is one.
“Work, for I am with you” (Haggai 2:4).
“Work, for I am with you” (Haggai 2:4).
How cool is that? It's not work because I will then help you or like the popular saying "God helps those who help themselves" - nay, it's go to work because I am with you.
Another one:
“I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
“I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
It doesn't say as long as you are with me and you do this and that, no, Jesus told this to His disciples when He left them. As contrary as it sounds, Jesus keeps the promise to never leave us as orphans.
A third one:
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18).
Are you hurt, inn despair, feeling lost? Well remember that He is near you. Recall the promises. Get your hands dirty and work at the promises. Recall it to yourself daily.
The last one:
“He who touches you touches the apple of his eye” (Zechariah 2:8).
This certainly is not the last of His promises, but the last one I would mention here. He tells us how he sees us. He is jealous of us. God looks at us and cares for us so much that he says that touching us is like touching the apple of His eye. Although this promise was for the nation of Israel, it's for us too under the new covenant. Be careful, as our God is like a lion to His people.
What then now?
Take heart my Child, He says, - Be Still - Hope on Him. He will come through for you. He knows your pain, your worries and He is your shelter and shield. Be encouraged because He has said "I will make all things new".
Comments