June 14, 2024 DEVOTED
2 Corinthians 11:2-3 “For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”
Paul was concerned for the believers that he had led to Christ; they were joined to Christ and He was their one ‘husband.’ Paul’s heart desire was that they would live in devotion to Christ, faithful to Him. If Paul was with us today, I am sure he would have the same concerns. Adam and Eve, who walked with God, proved that man can be deceived and led astray by the craftiness of the devil. The definition of craftiness should get our attention: “Cunning skill in achieving one’s ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means.” Satan is a master at scheming and deceiving. However, we do not have to buy into or fall victim to his schemes. We have been given the Holy Spirit to guide us and impart to us the wisdom of God. The word ‘devoted’ is a critical word that identifies just where the battle takes place. Either we are devoted to someone or we are not devoted; there is no in between. We devote ourselves to what or who we love; being devoted means that we have passion for whatever or whoever we are devoted too. That reality gets us to where our enemy attacks. If we are walking with the Lord, Satan will rarely temp us to commit some hideous sin; instead, he will try subtly to draw our attention away form God and entice us to focus on self. This is where devotion to Christ comes in; if our passion and love is for Christ, we will recognize the schemes of the enemy ever how subtle they may be. If I am devoted to my wife, and I am, then I will easily hear any ‘voice’ that would draw me from my devotion and lead me astray; on the contrary, if I am not devoted to my wife, I would open myself up to the scheming of the devil. Being devoted to Christ does not mean that we will never sin or be drawn away from Christ for a brief period, but it does mean that I will know when I am am being tempted to go in a way contrary to Christ, and realizing that, I quickly return to my devotion to Christ. The encouragement for us today is to be alert to the craftiness of the devil and be truly devoted to Christ.
1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover, it is required of stewards to be found faithful.”
Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
Blessings, Buddy
[email protected]
2 Corinthians 11:2-3 “For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”
Paul was concerned for the believers that he had led to Christ; they were joined to Christ and He was their one ‘husband.’ Paul’s heart desire was that they would live in devotion to Christ, faithful to Him. If Paul was with us today, I am sure he would have the same concerns. Adam and Eve, who walked with God, proved that man can be deceived and led astray by the craftiness of the devil. The definition of craftiness should get our attention: “Cunning skill in achieving one’s ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means.” Satan is a master at scheming and deceiving. However, we do not have to buy into or fall victim to his schemes. We have been given the Holy Spirit to guide us and impart to us the wisdom of God. The word ‘devoted’ is a critical word that identifies just where the battle takes place. Either we are devoted to someone or we are not devoted; there is no in between. We devote ourselves to what or who we love; being devoted means that we have passion for whatever or whoever we are devoted too. That reality gets us to where our enemy attacks. If we are walking with the Lord, Satan will rarely temp us to commit some hideous sin; instead, he will try subtly to draw our attention away form God and entice us to focus on self. This is where devotion to Christ comes in; if our passion and love is for Christ, we will recognize the schemes of the enemy ever how subtle they may be. If I am devoted to my wife, and I am, then I will easily hear any ‘voice’ that would draw me from my devotion and lead me astray; on the contrary, if I am not devoted to my wife, I would open myself up to the scheming of the devil. Being devoted to Christ does not mean that we will never sin or be drawn away from Christ for a brief period, but it does mean that I will know when I am am being tempted to go in a way contrary to Christ, and realizing that, I quickly return to my devotion to Christ. The encouragement for us today is to be alert to the craftiness of the devil and be truly devoted to Christ.
1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover, it is required of stewards to be found faithful.”
Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
Blessings, Buddy
[email protected]
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