ROMANS 12:1–2
The Bible teaches that complete devotion is required of believers. This isn’t just a suggestion or a good idea; it is a command that is echoed throughout Scripture. From the Old Testament to the New, we are constantly reminded that God calls His people to love Him with all of their heart, soul, mind, and strength. It’s a command that touches every aspect of our lives, and today we will explore what it means to live in total devotion to our God.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 says,
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
This is the great Shema, a central statement of faith for the people of Israel, and it holds incredible significance for us today. In it, we see the foundation of what it means to be wholly devoted to the Lord.
The Nature of Devotion: Total Commitment
The first thing we notice in this passage is the holistic nature of the command. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. The word “all” here means every part of who we are. This isn’t about giving God a slice of our time or attention, but rather every bit of our being.
- All your heart means that our emotions, our desires, and the things that matter most to us are fully given over to God.
- All your soul means that the deepest part of our identity—our very being—is anchored in God.
- All your strength means that our actions, our efforts, and our energy are directed toward the purposes of God.
Too often, we live fragmented lives. We give God our Sundays, but our Mondays through Saturdays are ours. We give God our prayers, but our finances or careers are off-limits. God is calling us to something different—a life where every piece fits together under His lordship. This is the nature of true devotion.
The Example of Jesus: Perfect Devotion
To understand what this devotion looks like in practice, we need to look no further than Jesus. In Matthew 22:37-38, Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment is, and He echoed the Shema, saying:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.”
Jesus didn’t just preach this; He lived it. His life was a perfect picture of complete devotion to the Father. In everything He did, Jesus sought the will of God. He was devoted in His prayer life, often going to quiet places to spend time alone with His Father. He was devoted in His obedience, even to the point of death on a cross. He was devoted in His love, laying down His life for the sake of others.
Jesus shows us that devotion to God is not just a feeling—it’s an active, lived-out love that shapes every decision, every word, and every relationship.
The Obstacles to Devotion: Divided Loyalties
If devotion to God is so central to the Christian life, why do we often struggle with it? One word: distractions. The world is full of things that seek to divide our attention and our loyalty. James 4:4 says:
“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”
James uses the word “adulterous” to describe a divided heart. Like a spouse who is unfaithful, we sometimes give our hearts to other things—whether it’s success, comfort, relationships, or entertainment. These things, in and of themselves, aren’t bad, but when they take the place of God in our lives, they become idols.
We must recognize that true devotion requires us to choose. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters.” We cannot be devoted to God and to the things of this world at the same time. We must make a choice: will we serve God with all that we are, or will we allow our devotion to be diluted by the distractions around us?
The Fruit of Devotion: A Transformed Life
When we choose to be fully devoted to God, something amazing happens: our lives are transformed. Jesus uses the metaphor of a vine and branches in John 15:5 to describe this reality:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
When we are devoted to Christ, abiding in Him like branches connected to a vine, we begin to bear fruit—spiritual fruit that reflects the character of Jesus. This fruit includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are not things we can manufacture on our own. They are the natural result of a life devoted to God.
But notice the warning: “Apart from me, you can do nothing.” If we try to live the Christian life in our own strength, apart from total devotion to Jesus, we will fail. But when we abide in Him, we will bear much fruit, and our lives will be a witness to the world of God’s transforming power.
The Path Forward: A Call to Renewed Devotion
So, how do we respond to this call to be completely devoted to the Lord? It starts with a decision—a decision to surrender every part of our lives to Him. We must give Him our hearts, our souls, our minds, and our strength.
This means taking an honest look at our lives and asking:
•What areas am I holding back from God?
•What distractions or idols are competing for my devotion?
•How can I realign my heart, soul, and strength with God’s purposes?
It may mean making some hard choices. It may mean cutting out things that are pulling you away from God. But the promise is that when we are fully devoted to Him, He will give us the strength we need to live the life He has called us to.
Conclusion:
God is calling us to a life of complete devotion. He doesn’t want part of us—He wants all of us. Just as Jesus gave His all for us on the cross, He asks that we give our all to Him in return. This is not a burden, but a joy. When we give ourselves fully to God, we discover the abundant life that He has promised.
Let us leave this place today with hearts renewed in our devotion to the Lord. Let us love Him with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength, and let us trust that in Him, we will bear much fruit for His glory.
