Devotion

I've been thinking about devotion and committment in recent days.About the need for such things whether it involves a job,a ministry or a spouse.Or most importantly God.I have also been thinking alot about dogs.My husband and I,though renters,love dogs.Alot.As renters of an apartment we cannot have pets of any kind.Some places allow them if you are willing to pay an extremely high deposit.We are not.So,we spoil other people's dogs.Mostly at garage sales.I have been known to stop at a sale just because I saw a big,friendly looking dog out front. :-)And on more than one occasion a garage sale dog has tried to come home with us.Occasionally we run across dogs that are less than friendly.Not mean.Just not focused on us or our attempts to get their attention.I saw one such dog in a vehicle recently at a local store.No matter how much I called to him he ignored me.He was focused on his owner.His master.At that moment I thought I heard the Lord whispering to me.I heard him say "that's devotion."That dog's main focus was seeing his master's face.I realized at that point that I was merely a distraction to that dog.His focus was elsewhere.It was on the one who loved him,fed him and cared for his daily needs.I saw how that is exactly like the Lord in our lives.He is the ONE who loves us and cares for us and feeds us.Both physically and in our spirits.But unlike that dog there are many distractions that pull us away from our devotion to our Master.Even ministry can be a distraction if we are so busy ministering that we forget the ONE we are doing it for.It can happen.Divided loyalties.Misspent time.As I watched this dog I also thought of Anna the prophetess.In Luke 2:36-37 it says"There was also a Prophetess,Anna,the daughter of Phanuel,of the tribe of Asher.She was very old:she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,and then was a widow until she was eighty four.She never left the temple but worshipped night and day,fasting and praying."Now that to me was devotion.I admire that lady.In the midst of her grieving she remained devoted to God.She remained in the temple night and day fasting and praying.There are times in my life I have found it difficult to pray for one hour.But not Anna.I also thought of the Apostle Paul.Acts 20:24 says"However I consider my life worth nothing to me(KJV says but none of these things move me;I like that version best),if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."Paul was able to say this after the Holy Spirit had warned him that prison and hardships faced him.But he was devoted to God and God's call on his life.And therefore he was able to endure anything he faced knowing the ONE who called him would also equip him to endure.I don't know what lies ahead for any of us but I do know God can be trusted.He will enable us to endure if we keep our focus on and committment to HIM.May God richly bless and encourage you this day.
Much Love,Sharon