Devotion

Wholehearted commitment to God, to another person or to a task. God's people are encouraged to show such commitment.

God's people are to be wholehearted in their devotion to him

Deuteronomy 6:5; Romans 12:1 See also Deuteronomy 30:1–3; Judges 5:2; Psalm 119:2; Jeremiah 29:13

And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

Examples of devotion to God

Psalm 42:1; Philippians 3:7–8 Numbers 14:6–9, Numbers 32:11–12; Joshua 14:7–12; 2 Kings 23:1–3 parallel 2 Chronicles 34:29–32 Josiah and his subjects; 2 Chronicles 15:12–15 the people of Judah; Psalm 27:1–4, Psalm 40:7–8, Psalm 84:2, Psalm 119:57, Psalm 119:135–136; 1 Corinthians 2:2, 1 Corinthians 9:26–27; 2 Corinthians 1:8–10; Philippians 3:13–14; Colossians 1:24, Colossians 1:28–29

For the choirmaster. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God.

But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Examples of devotion to other people

Matthew 26:35 parallel Mark 14:31John 6:68 See also Ruth 1:15–17 Ruth to Naomi1 Samuel 19:4–5, 1 Samuel 20:12–13, 1 Samuel 20:41–42EPH 1 Samuel 5:22–23, Ephesians 5:28–29; Colossians 3:18–19 2 Corinthians 8:1–5 the Macedonian churches to Christians in poverty

Peter replied, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You.” And all the other disciples said the same thing.

Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Examples of devotion to a specific task

The leaders and people of Israel to building the temple

1 Chronicles 28:2–3, 1 Chronicles 28:6, 1 Chronicles 28:9–10, 1 Chronicles 29:1–6, 1 Chronicles 29:17–19

Nehemiah and the people of Judah to rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem

Nehemiah 2:4–6, Nehemiah 2:17–18, Nehemiah 4:13–18, Nehemiah 4:21–23, Nehemiah 6:15

Jesus Christ devoted to his mission

Luke 9:51 See also Matthew 16:23 parallel Mark 8:33; Luke 4:1–12 parallel Matthew 4:1–10; Luke 4:16–21, Luke 22:42 parallels Matthew 26:39, Mark 14:35–36; John 9:4, John 19:30

As the day of His ascension approached, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

The disciples devoted themselves to the ministry of the church

Acts 2:42, Acts 5:42, Acts 6:1–4, Acts 8:4