Devotion

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. (Luke 2:25)

Devout men and women are those who pay serious attention to the Lord with transparent and sincere hearts that wishes for the best and glory of the God Whom they worship or serve. Sometimes devotion to service, ministry and even prayer could supersede our true devoutness and God is very clear that nothing comes before Him (Exo 20:3). In other words the things that are outcome of our devotion to God have taken priority tainting the divine oneness in Christ.

And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. (Act 8:2)

Devout men and women are bold individuals and yet have an exchanged ‘heart of flesh’ (Eze 36:26) to grieve things which the Christ would grieve over (Psa 78:40). Bold men and women do not become devout, but the devout become bold for God. The Lord will give the devout His heart and put His Spirit upon them (1 Cor 6:19), even their bodies transformed to vessels of His glory.

A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. (Act 10:2)

The devout to God give generously and are remembered in Heaven for that. Their alms are not done in pride (Matt 6:3) for men to see but become memorials before God. They have learned to hear and respond to the cry of the poor (Pro 21:13). The poor will always be amongst us to test where our heart and treasure is, material blessings are not meant to be hoarded but the devout see themselves as channels of blessings and experience the true blessings thereof (Acts 20:35).

And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, (Act 22:12)

Not only the devout have good testimonies, but also be those whom God will strategically use even to launch men and women into their God led callings. What a great privilege to be part and parcel of God’s plan and purposes! Don’t be devout men and women of things, be devout men and women of God, He will give His heart and Spirit to do in accordance to all that He authored in us and will personally ensure its completion. Don’t be devoted to causes, no matter how spiritual they are, but be devoted to Jesus so we don’t end up glorying in causes but in Christ.