Following God Wholeheartedly
And so Jehoshaphat was devoted to the ways of the Lord. But I love what that verse said. It said “his heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 17:6). You see, it was about a love and not duty for him.
Devoted But Despising
I think you can be devoted to something and despise it. Many people, I think, are devoted to their jobs not because they love what they do, but because to have a job in this day and age is a privilege. And so they do it, they stick it out. They remain committed even though they aren't happy about it. And so even though they're devoted, their heart isn't in it.
I think this happens in our faith as well. A lot of the time we see our faith as a kind of pleasure-less job. We try to live it not because we love God from the heart, but because we think it's the right thing to do.
Loving Not Just Serving
Can it be said of us that our hearts are devoted to God? Remember, the commandment that Jesus said was the greatest was to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Not just to serve him out of a sense of duty, but to love him. And oh how deeply he's loved us! How wonderfully he's loved us.
So let's be fully devoted to God. Like Jehoshaphat was, not out of duty, but out of love for him. Go deeper into your friendship with him and into his care. Worship him and just be in awe of him. And out of that sense of wonder, be committed.
Devote yourself to the God who is fully devoted to you.
