In the Shadow of Divine Perfection

I need to be devoted. Not to show some sort of awesome piety that exceeds everyone else. Not a self focused, self righteous thing. No, I need devotion in my life like Jesus had it. I need to be love-focused, I need to be peace-focused, I need to be God-focused. Far too often I find myself becoming focused on everything except for God. Ministry, sermons, Facebook, blogs, whatever it is, it's not God. That's idolatry. That's scary.

I wrote this devotional for my young adults group at SHBC last week, and I don't know, I felt like I was writing to myself.

Devoted. Joshua 6:21 "They devoted the city to the LORD and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys." Don't be fooled, devotion isn't for the faint of heart, especially when it comes to being devoted to Jesus. It may just kill you, in a good way. It's more than just adhering to a discipline (I've gotta get my 10 minutes of prayer in), because God isn't impressed with us and our discipline. If we try to work ourselves to Him, we do exactly the opposite of what needs to be done because Jesus already did all the work.

Instead, we should be devoted like Jesus was devoted. He was interested in spending time with the Father, not out of regimented religion but out of true understanding that knowing the Father was the most important thing. Through relationship with God will devotion come forth, like a plant sprouting because of the water and sun and soil. Our devotion should look like us dying to know God.

Pursue Christ, brothers and sisters. Devote yourself to Him.

You see, sometimes we get lost thinking that the paths we use (bible study, sermons, ministry, etc) are God. Maybe not cognitively, but it sometimes happens. The truth is that all of those things are shadows of God. Michelangelo said, "The truest work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection." Don't be confused, sermons, bible studies, ministry and the like are all great and good, but we must remember that they are shadows of our GREAT GOD. We must pursue HIM. Christ did not get flogged, beaten, stripped naked, and hung on a cross so we could have bible study. He did that so we could have a change of heart, mind and relationship toward God, so we can approach God and be in His presence.

Don't misunderstand me, I believe wholeheartedly in using sermons, ministry, bible study and the like to pursue God, but if they don't push you closer to Him, if you focus on the shadows, you are going to miss a lot. Jesus is everything guys. In the words of Lecrae,

To live is Christ yeah that's Paul I recall
To die is gain so for Christ we give it all
He's the treasure you'll find in the mall
Your money your singleness marriage talent and time
They were loaned to you to show the world that Christ is Divine
That's why it's Christ in my rhymes
That's why it's Christ all the time
My whole world is built around him He's the life in my lines
I refused to waste my life
He's too true ta chase
That ice
Heres my gifts and time cause I'm constantly trying to be used to praise the Christ
If he's truly raised to life
Then this news should change your life
And by his grace you can put your faith in place that rules your days and nights.