Category: Devotions

Give to God your wholehearted devotion is the call issued by the Apostel Paul. All that we are comes from Him. God made us with a mind, with a heart and with a will that we might think, love and obey Him freely.

Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-79) of England began writing verse at age seven. Her insatiable thirst for the Bible led her to memorize the entire New Testament, Psalms, Isaiah, and the Minot Prophets. She was a concert contralto soloist and a brilliant classical pianist. She gave her life to Christ at age fifteen.

At age twenty-one she stood in the art gallery at Dusseldorf, Germany, looking at the painting of the crucifixion with the engraving beneath it: “This I have done for thee; what hast thou done for Me?” In the previous century the wealthy young Count Zinzendorf of Moravian missionary fame read these same words and was led to consecrate his life to Christ. As she stood there, her very soul was stirred. Tears cascaded down her cheeks. From that moment she dedicated her talents to the service of the Lord.

The consecrated life that is acceptable to God is characterised by holiness. The word “holy” means “set apart, sanctified, consecrated.” The root word means “chaste, pure.” Its fundamental idea is separation, consecration, devotion to the service of God through Jesus Christ. It means sharing in God’s purity and abstaining from earth’s defilement. It is made possible by the God, the Father of mercies (2 Cor. 1:3) who showed compassion or pity for the suffering sinner. The believer can depend upon God’s mercies as they make their bodies a living offering to Him. [The Complete Word Study Bible Dictionary, Spiros Zodhiates]

Solomon defined holiness as the defining character of believers that God pronounced as good in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

The Apostle Paul has taken pains to delineate at length the privilege of the Christian life in God through Christ. He has painted for us richest of God’s blessings that is bestowed on the most unworthy sinners by His unfailing mercies. As the psalmist extolled, “The Lord is my shephard, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me to sill waters.” Having received so much, he is seeking from us a response. A reasonable response. Not a demanding response. But a willing response. A grateful heart, a pair of willing hands to serve, a set of feet willingly consecrated for His glory.

The Apostle Paul concludes this section by pointing his readers to see the mercy and faithfulness of God. He is indeed worthy of our worship. He is the Creator. It is from Him that all the universe find its existence. He is also the Redeemer. The Creator God, the second Person of the Godhead, in the fullness of time entered human history, in the Person Jesus Christ.

God is the uncaused first cause! No one is before Him and nothing that we know is not received from His good hand. The Apostle Paul quotes Job 41:11 to present this truth, “Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.”

The Biblical thinking about man’s uniqueness stands in sharp contrast to much thinking that portrays man as just another animal, as a product of the theory of evolution. The Bible tells us that man is created in the image of God. He is the apex of God’s creation. When God created the universe, the earth was the focus. When God created the earth, man was the focus. He made the earth a most habitable paradise before He made man and place in there to enjoy His creation.

The Apostle Paul alluding to God’s infinite wisdom quotes Isaiah 40:13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counseller hath taught him? Indeed, Job 21:22 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high. And in Job 36:22-23 Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him? 23 Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?

No man can grasp even a little of the infinite wisdom of God. We observe this in God’s creation. How He makes the animals is a display of His infinite wisdom.

Marvel of marvels, this is my observation as I review the enactment of the gospel plan to reach every nation. Truly, I marvel at the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! It causes us to bow in humble adoration. As I contemplate how God saves, I must conclude every conversion is a miracle. God has woven circumstances in each one’s life to coincide with their encounter with God’s love and His plan to save them! What a Wonderful Saviour!

Pondering the unbelief that has befallen Israel and the extension of God’s grace upon the Gentile nations, the Apostle Paul can only marvel at the wisdom of God in carrying out His redemption plan. Indeed, the gospel message is effectual for both Jews and Gentiles. None is excluded, both are included. As Jesus said in

As Jesus said in John 3:16-21 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

In experiencing God’s mercy, he learns to give leeway to the Jews and not write off and condemned them to irrevocable judgment by his self-righteousness. He urged his readers to consider their previous lost condition and how God’s grace brought them to where they are as privileged partakers of the spiritual riches in Christ.

Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. God’s gifts and calling are incapable of being changed, not to be taken back. God is not fickle-minded. He carries through the people whom He chooses to their ultimate blessing. …

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