This continues a series of reflections on personal devotions written by individuals from many different walks of life. This reflection was written by Rick Moore. It will be posted in two parts, due to length.
Personal devotions in the Christian life are of utmost importance. Yet, almost any Christian you ask will tell you that they are not as faithful in personal devotions as they ought to be. Indeed, we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Yet, it is this specific area that so many Christians, and even Reformed Christians recognize as a weakness in their lives. We are called to devote ourselves to God. Therefore, it is important for us to understand a few things about devotions to God. What are personal devotions? What is the requirement for devotion to God? Why do we fall short? Why must we devote ourselves to God? How must we devote ourselves to God?
What is Personal Devotion to God?
Devotion or devote is not a common biblical term, at least in the KJV; thus, we do not usually associate it with a biblical definition. Generally, by personal devotions, we refer to dedicating personal, private time to the things of God’s kingdom, specifically by studying God’s Word, meditating on God’s Word, and praying to God. Yet, taken literally, personal devotions would refer to the whole life of the child of God, which ought to be a life of devotion to God.
Indeed, you can find this in the definitions of devotion found in Webster’s 1828 Dictionary. Noah Webster used the Bible, and specifically the KJV translation, as a major part in the formulation of definitions for his 1828 Dictionary. There are multiple definitions of devotion listed in this dictionary. The first definition is this: “1. The state of being dedicated, consecrated, or solemnly set apart for a particular purpose.” In this definition, devotion is certainly not limited to one area of the Christian life, but encompasses the whole of it. The second definition is a bit more specific, but still leaves room for a broad, all-encompassing view of devotions, “2. A solemn attention to the Supreme Being in worship; a yielding of the heart and affections to God, with reverence, faith and piety, in religious duties, particularly in prayer and meditation; devoutness.”
The Requirement for Personal Devotions
It is useful to zoom in on a specific area of the Christian life when we are talking about personal devotions, but we must not forget that the concept of devotion to God is all-encompassing. The standard for personal devotion to God is laid out in Matthew 6:33a: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness.” This standard, along with all the standards of God, is an absolute standard, and a perfect standard. This means that in order to be found righteous before God, one must keep the standard perfectly.
The standard for personal devotions is that our whole life must be dedicated to God. Devotion has to do with dedicating oneself to the Lord. In Scripture, we can find various examples of those who devoted themselves to the Lord. For example, Hannah the mother of Samuel promised the Lord that if she had a son, he would be dedicated to the Lord (I Samuel 1:11). And then Samuel was raised up by God to be His prophet. We also think of the reality of the single man or woman in the church and how he or she is to dedicate themselves to the Lord, as is taught in I Corinthians 7:32.
Many of our young people find themselves unmarried. We must keep in mind that we are married to the Lord as we the church are the bride of Christ. Yet, we understand that this devotion to God is not to be unique to the single in the church, but that every man and woman should put God first in his or her life.
This standard means that since we have God’s Word to read, we must read it. The standard means that since we can go to God in prayer, we must go to Him in prayer, and boldly, for we come unto the Father by Jesus Christ, our continual intercessor, and our mediator. And we ought to do both often, even multiple times a day.
By Rick Moore
Young Calvinists 