Devotion is not a Commitment!
When we consider our commitment to something we weigh it's value to us. We are committed to something if we have a responsibility or an obligation to it. For example, we are committed to our jobs. This doesn't mean we like our jobs, but we have a responsibility to do the work that we are paid to do and we are obligated by our bills to work. However if we no longer have an obligation or responsibility to something we are no longer committed to it. So if we win the lottery we may quite our jobs if our only obligation and responsibility was the commitment to producing an income. Or we may change our jobs if something "better" comes our way and our commitment is not with the company we are working for. Anyway, you get the point.
However, a devotion to something means that we have a passion for it. It means that we are dedicated with both excitement and enthusiasm to it. It is not something that we will be torn away from. When I consider this (dictionary) view of Devotion, I think of my husband, children, and family. My responsibilities to these people do not change how I feel about them. If I am obligated to them, I am less aware of those obligations than I am for my own desires to be near them.
However, I must confess that when I look at my relationship with God, I see more obligation and responsibility than passion and enthusiasm. Not that I am not passionate about God or that I am not dedicated to my faith , but I have more of a commitment to reading my Bible then an excitement about it. I feel more responsible than enthusiastic about sharing my faith.
But it hasn't always been this way!
I remember a time in the not so distant past when my excitement and passion was not so out weighed by obligation and responsibility. And this is what I want to feel again! So for the next few days I'm going to look at ways to be Devoted and show my Devotion to the People that I know I am Devoted to and use the practices as an example for my Devotion to God. I hope you will continue to join me on this path of self discovery.
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