Understanding Devotion: Complete Surrender to God

Devotion represents our wholehearted commitment and loyalty to God, expressed through worship, obedience, and service. True devotion involves putting God first in all aspects of life while removing anything that hinders our relationship with Him. It requires both emotional attachment and practical action, demonstrating our love through consistent choices that honor God above all else.

God Demands First Place in Our Lives

Can we do less than "Serve God with wholehearted devotion and a willing mind" considering He has saved us from eternal damnation and blesses us in this life with His Spirit residing within to guide and comfort us (Deut 6:13; Jn 10:11, 14:16; Rom 12:11; 1 Cor 6:19, 7:35; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Thes 1:10)?

God is to be first in our lives

God states we are not to have any other gods apart from Him (Ex 20:3-5,23). Yet Satan uses deception and our love for the things of this world to turn our hearts from full devotion to God and connection to Him, the source of divine life (1 Kgs 11:4; Jn 10:10; 2 Cor 11:3). Is our heart's cry, "We will only serve the Lord" (Josh 24:15)? Any such verbal statement must be backed up with consistent action that proves the sincerity of our words. Jesus would challenge us as He did Peter, "Do you love me more than ______" (Jn 21:15).

Living Out Your Devotion to Christ

Be committed to God and His cause, getting rid of anything that would hinder your devotion to Him (Mk 10:29-31; Lk 9:24; Eph 4:22; Heb 12:1). Don't count your life of greater value than continually surrendering yourself to God. Our devotion to God is measured by our love for God and others, hatred of evil, and obedience to His commands (Mk 12:30-31; Jn 14:15; 1 Jn 2:15, 4:21, 5:2-3). True commitment means making deliberate choices daily that align with God's will, even when it costs us something we value.

God wants us to do right, all the time, for obedience is better than repenting after having sinned but the more we have been forgiven and blessed by God the greater should be our devotion to Him (1 Sam 15:22; Lk 7:47). How much do I value the sacrifice Jesus voluntarily made for me? This is expressed in worship, availability and obedience to God. While the debt we owe for our salvation can never be repaid, we are instructed to serve others in good works and telling them about Christ (Mt 28:19-20; Mk 5:19; Act 4:20; Gal 6:10).

Live out your devotion to Christ

Examples and Models of True Devotion

An example of devotion is Anna who "worshiped night and day, fasting and praying" (Lk 2:37). Her genuine devotion enabled her to recognize the Saviour when others missed Him. When devotion to God becomes mere ritual and performance, we lapse into hypocrisy and miss His guidance. Authentic devotion flows from a heart transformed by God's love, not from external religious obligations.

The Bible also provides examples of devoted relationships in human contexts. Husbands and wives should be devoted to each other, caring for each other as best friends and especially maintaining exclusive sexual intimacy. This earthly devotion mirrors our exclusive commitment to God, teaching us about faithfulness and loyalty in relationships.

Consider also the devotion of Ruth to Naomi (Ruth 1:16-17), demonstrating loyalty that transcends circumstances. Such examples show us that devotion involves steadfast commitment through both joyful and difficult seasons.

Do I maintain consistent devotion during both seasons of blessing and times of difficulty?

Reflection and Application

What areas of my life compete with God for first place, and how can I practically surrender them to Him?
How does my daily routine reflect my devotion to God through worship, prayer, service, and decision-making?
In what specific ways can I demonstrate my love for Christ through obedience to His commands in my relationships and work?
How can I cultivate genuine devotion that flows from the heart rather than mere religious performance or duty?