Words and Worlds of Difference

I heard something great in a sermon yesterday when the pastor made a distinction between "devotions" and "devotion."  Many Christians call a regular time of Bible reading or prayer "devotions," a spiritual discipline embraced to be in the Word of God, personal growth and to commune with God.  Without devotion to God, however, reading verses or muttering prayers can be an empty exercise.  The Pharisees were big on reading the Scriptures, public prayer and worship, yet they were not even forgiven of sin or saved because they had not placed their faith in Jesus.  This distinction prompted me to consider others that can plague the walks of genuine believers.  Different words make a world of difference.

King Saul believed in the existence of God and was given a new heart, yet he attempted to substitute sacrifice for obedience.  God told him to destroy all the Amalekites and all their animals because the time of judgment had come.  Instead of obeying the LORD, Saul saved the best of the animals under the pretense of bringing them as a sacrifice to God--as if He could be bought off.  The prophet Samuel rebuked Saul for his folly, and it is good we realise the tendency seen in Saul still continues to this day.

During the Bible study last week, we briefly discussed the difference between being broken by sin or broken for sin--a big distinction.  The reality is all human beings are born under the curse of sin that brings death.  We are dead in sins and incapable of doing good or being righteous by our efforts, spiritually broken beyond repair.  This puts all humanity on the same level before God, sinners who need a Saviour.  It is a small thing to admit we are broken people if we remain proud and self-sufficient:  it is the ones who are broken for their own sin--humbled and contrite before the LORD for our guilt, knowing we deserve death--who desperately come to Jesus Christ for salvation.

In addition to this, we can try in vain to substitute penance for repentance.  "Penance" is defined as punishment inflicted upon oneself or submitted to when imposed by others to show sorrow for sin.  In one regard it is doing a good thing to make up for doing a sinful thing.  Judas sorrowed over his sin and punished himself with death, yet he remained condemned before God without repentance.  While penance is often a work of the flesh, repentance is an inner work that begins with a changed mind that admits and confesses sin before God, takes action to cease from of sin, and seeks to do what pleases God instead.  Repentance is guided by the fear of God and the Holy Spirit which leads to a transformed life, knowing forgiveness is by grace through faith in Jesus.

While there may be no end to these important distinctions, the final one I admit I also have encountered by personal experience is to seek to be liked rather than being loving.  In a desire we would be accepted by others, we put ourselves before Jesus by trying to be likeable.  Jesus has provided us an example of what love looks like by His care and service of others, how He spoke the truth graciously, and even gave His own life as a sacrifice for sinners who hated Him.  It was the love of Jesus that led Him in His dealings with others--not the oppressive desire to be liked and accepted.  Seeking to be liked looks to receive from others, while choosing to love means giving to others with no strings attached.

Friends, we do well to follow Christ's example and commands by our devotion to Him shown in obedience, brokenness for sin, repentance, and to love one another as Jesus loves us.  As born-again believers, we are called to present ourselves as living sacrifices unto God which is our reasonable service.  Let us take heart God will do the heavy lifting we cannot do ourselves as we willingly take Christ's yoke upon us.  God is faithful to do His part, and let us examine our hearts and lives so we do ours in His strength.