September 2022

My aunt Sarah is a devoted wife and mother. She is also devoted to her church. As an elder’s wife, she served together with her husband at their church for a decade. My aunt is a soft-spoken and truly kind person. Moreover, she is a giver. She gives all she has to her family. She pours out her life to be a loving and supportive wife and mother. She will sacrifice her happiness and well-being for her family. Her sense of purpose and fulfillment is in her family.

Months ago, I received the horrible news that my aunt tried to end her life. We were so devastated that we could not understand why she would hurt herself, much less want to end her life. We later found out that her family took all the money that she inherited from her deceased mother and left her with nothing. Feeling hopeless, abandoned, and unloved by her family, my aunt decided to end her life. However, by the grace of God, she survived.

Are we so devoted to our profession, hobbies, sports, family, or friends that we make them idols in our lives? Or, are we so devoted to Jesus Christ that we make Him the only deity that we worship and adore?

There is a vast difference between devotion to a person and devotion to the Lord Jesus. To be a disciple is to be a devoted servant motivated by love for the Lord Jesus. Many of us who call ourselves Christians are not truly devoted to Jesus Christ. We cannot have a passionate love for the Lord Jesus unless the Holy Spirit has given it to us. We may admire, respect, and revere Christ, but we cannot love Him on our own. The only One who truly loves the Lord Jesus is the Holy Spirit, and it is He who has “poured out in our hearts” the very “love of God.” (Romans 5:5.) Devoting ourselves to things will only make us happy and satisfy us temporarily. Devoting ourselves to humans will lead us to disappointment and heartache. However, giving our pure and deep devotion to Jesus Christ will never disappoint us. He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us give our unending devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. The purpose and fulfillment of our lives are in serving the Lord Jesus Christ. Continue to ask the Holy Spirit for a passionate love for our Savior Jesus Christ. As we endure this pandemic, let us focus our minds and devotion on Jesus Christ. God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is the only source of our strength, comfort, peace, and protection.