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Wholly Devoted
1 Kings 8:61 NASB 61 "Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day."1 Timothy 5:10 NASB 10 having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work.
The scriptures have many references using the term "devoted" but not all of them are a positive thing. 1 Sam. 15:21—devoted to destruction, Hosea 9:10—devoted to shame, however in most of the passages the word is used as Webster's online dictionary defines devoted as "a strong feeling of love or loyalty". The passages above are an example of that definition.
How do we view the word devoted as it relates to our daily lives?
How often do we use the term as we review our lives at the end of each day?
Consider Romans 12:10 NASB Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor. Paul conveys these thoughts: brotherly love, kind affection, sense of family, tenderness, preferring one another, mutual respect and honor, which will be the result when each one of us is wholly devoted to God,these will be the "fruits" that will be forth coming as we use that same attitude in dealing with our brethren.
Paul used the same language in Philippians 2:2-8 NASB 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
The Son of God, took on the form of a bond servant, humbling Himself to demonstrate His love for ALL who would DEVOTE THEMSELVES to Him, to love Him, be Loyal to Him and part of that demonstration of love for Him is how we fervently love one another from the heart [1 Pet. 1:22].
Romans 12:12 NASB 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, Jesus was a man of prayer. He spent many, many hours in prayer to His Father, the same Father that we pray to also. This is the same attitude Paul expressed in 1 Thess. 5:17 "pray without ceasing" and in Eph. 6:18 "pray all the time" , speak to God about everything that promotes things spiritual, and the physical things that provide support for the spiritual things in this life. Paul expressed his desire for prayers for him to have boldness to speak the truth of the gospel.
2 Thessalonians 3:1 NASB 1 Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you;
Philemon 1:6 NASB 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ's sake.
To become devoted in prayer we must also be devoted to God in our daily lives, which means that I am not devoted to self, I have followed the example of Christ [Phil. 2 above] emptied my- self of my selfish attitude, humbled myself and become obedient to my Father in heaven.
1 Peter 3:8 NASB 8 To sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;
