Memory Verse: Matthew 6:19-21
Life Application: What’s most important to us will show in our lives.
Bible Text:
James 1:8
Matthew 6:19-21
Luke 2:36-38
Devotion means deep, steady affection; loyalty; faithfulness; the act of being devoted or devout. Devote means set apart for some person or purpose; give up. It emphasizes giving up seriously to a single purpose, shutting out everything else. When we are wild about God it will show in our devotion to Him. Devotion to God involves all aspects of our life, wherever we are and whatever we’re doing- in public or in private. God desires for us to be single-minded. If we are double-minded we will be unstable, even in our devotion to God.
James 1:8 NKJV
“He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
Anything can take our attention away from God, both good and bad things. Good activities, including church programs, schedules, and campaigns, as well as bad circumstances, such as worry, fear, sickness and tragedy, can distract us from God. Anything that we allow to crowd out our time with God separates us from intimacy with Him. How we spend our time gives us a good idea of what things are the most important to us.
Matthew 6:19-21
“Lay not up for yourself treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
These verses tell us not to store up treasure on earth, but to store up treasure in heaven. It tells us that where our treasures are there our hearts will be also. We must not let ourselves become distracted by things or people in our love and devotion to God. Anna is an example of a person that was devoted to God and to ministering to Him. She was an elderly prophetess, maybe around 106 years old. She lived in Jerusalem. Anna was married for seven years when her husband died. The Bible tells us that Anna stayed in the temple day and night worshipping God. She spent all her time praying and fasting. She spent her time ministering to God.
Luke 2:36-37 NKJV
“Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.”
Anna was in the temple when Joseph and Mary brought baby Jesus to present to the Lord. When she saw Jesus, she immediately gave thanks to God. She physically saw what God had already shown her in the spirit.
The dictionary tells us that devotion means having a strong attachment or attraction to a person or cause. To be devoted is to be dedicated, to be completely applied to some activity, purpose, or person. To have devotion to someone or something means you won’t allow anything to distract you from doing what needs to be done.
Anna was devoted to worshiping God. She had a strong affection for God, and completely dedicated her whole life to ministering to Him through prayer and worship. She didn’t let anything distract her from her purpose. Her purpose was worshiping God and she knew it. Fulfilling her purpose brought great joy and blessings to her. God showed Anna His secret, who the Redeemer was, because of her intimate relationship with Him.
Luke 2:38 NKJV
“And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”
First and most importantly we should be devoted to God. Nothing should ever distract us. We should be devoted to knowing Him, obeying Him. and to living a life that is pleasing to Him. We should not be lukewarm concerning our devotion to God and to the things of God.
Like Anna, during our times of intimacy with God, He will whisper secrets, mysteries and revelations into our ear. When we draw close to God, we begin to experience peace and joy that we can’t find anywhere else. When we fill ourselves up with God’s purpose, to worship Him, our souls will find a special delight.
Review
1. Devotion to God involves _________ ________________ of our life, wherever we are and whatever we’re doing- in public or in private.
2. What can take our attention away from God?
3. How we spend our time gives us a good idea of what things are the most ___________________ to us.
4. The Bible tells us that Anna stayed in the temple day and night ___________________ God.
5. Anna was in the temple when Joseph and Mary brought baby _____________ to present to the Lord.
6. What did Anna do when she saw baby Jesus?
7. To have devotion to someone or something means you won’t allow anything to ________________ you from doing what needs to be done.
8. We should be devoted to knowing God, obeying God. and to ______________ ___ __________ that is pleasing to God.
9. We should not be ___________________ concerning our devotion to God and to the things of God.
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