Sincere & Pure Devotion: What It Looks Like
“For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy;
(2 Corinthians 11: 2-3 NASB)
for I betrothed you to one husband,
to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
But I am afraid that,
as the serpent deceived Eve by his trickery,
your minds will be led astray from sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”
We know the Bible speaks of the devil, reminding us that he does not represent the truth but instead is the father of lies. There is a melody by Colton Dixon that simply reminds us how the “Devil is a Liar.” Let us read God’s Word and be reminded. Let us listen to this melody and be reminded—the “Devil is a Liar”—and never to be trusted.
“Dancing with the devil
Don’t believe a word. . .
The devil is a liar
Says he can give you everything you desire . . .
Don’t believe the lie!”
Sincere & Pure Devotion to God is to remain steadfast for Christ Jesus!
It is a deliberate action!
We are to live and keep our minds focused upon Christ!
We are NOT to “be led astray [by the devil] from sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”
How do we remain steadfast for Jesus?
- We prioritize within our lives those things of greatest importance to our Lord.
- We study God’s Word—faithfully.
- We place the Lord before our own circumstances.
- We place the Lord before our own desires.
- We place the Lord before other people.
- We place the Lord before the devil’s temptation & trickery.
- We seek the Lord’s presence through prayer.
- We become self-disciplined through God’s leadership.
- We live purposefully, albeit a path that is never easy to walk.
- We Pray & We Fast & We Study the Word of God.
- We keep Christ first and foremost in our heart, in our soul, an in our mind.
- We keep Jesus ahead of our own pursuits.
- We keep Jesus in front of our own pleasures.
- We prepare ourselves to share the Gospel message.
- We do not allow ourselves to become distracted by the world’s desires.
- We do NOT allow our “minds will be led astray [by the devil] from sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”
This is never an easy path to traverse, but with God, the Bible reminds us how: “With God, all things are possible.”
So today, on this Saint Valentine’s Day, we are reminded of the world’s view of love, but let us become more focused upon God’s view of Love.
Let us remind ourselves of how we are to love others with a “godly love,” one that is jealous “with a godly jealousy; . . .”
We are—
- To NOT be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
- To NOT act disgracefully,
- To NOT brag,
- To NOT be arrogant,
- To NOT seek our own benefit,
- To NOT be provoked,
- To NOT keep accounts of wrongs we have suffered, &
- To NOT rejoice in anything that is unrighteous. (1 Corinthians 13: 1 & 6)
We are to—
- Share the mystery of Christ.
- Have the faith to remove mountains.
- Give away our possessions.
- Surrender our bodies so that we may glorify God.
- Be Patient & Kind & Jealous only for God.
- Keep Others’ Confidence.
- Believe & Hope & Endure all the things of Christ. (1 Corinthians 13: 2-7)
For we are the bride of Christ Jesus; we are “betrothed to one husband,” so we may “present [ourselves] as a pure virgin to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11: 2 NASB)
Sincere & Pure Devotion to God is to remain steadfast for Christ Jesus!
It is a deliberate action!
We are to live and keep our minds focused upon Christ!
We are NOT to “be led astray [by the devil] from sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”
Pure Devotion: LOVE—This is what It Looks Like!
“But now faith, hope, and love remain,
(1 Corinthians 13: 13 NASB)
these three;
but the greatest of these is LOVE
[Sincere & Pure Devotion to our Lord & Savior Jesus].”