“He who speaks on his
own does so to gain honor for himself, but he
who works for the
honor of the one who sent him is a man
of truth; there is
nothing false about him.”
John 7:18 (NIV)
I am not a morbid
woman but I spent one afternoon last week looking at obituaries in newspapers. I
confess that I was fascinated by the content of each one. Some were very
flowery and full of honors the person had attained in his or her lifetime;
others were concise and to the point with no frills. But what got my attention
was one particular word that was used over and over: “dedicated.”
The first
obituary shared that Mr. Smith “dedicated his life to the planting of trees in
his community.” Mrs. Callahan’s obituary stated that she was “completely
dedicated to her bridge club for 33 years.” Yet another woman “dedicated everything
she had to promoting healthier lifestyles for household pets.”
Certainly those activities were important to
those people and may have been important to others around them as well and I am
equally certain that they were worthwhile pastimes. But I have been trying to
wrap my mind around the word “dedicated.” It is defined in the dictionary as
“devoted to a task or purpose; having single-minded loyalty, exclusively allocated
to or intended for a particular service or purpose.”
So can I ask you
something? What are you dedicated to with all your heart and all your life?
What task or purpose fills your days and evenings more than anything else? What
consumes your thoughts and plans day after day?
I asked myself
those same questions and I didn’t like my answers: surfing the internet,
chatting on Facebook or on my cell phone, watching one reality show after
another on television. None of those activities were bad or heading me on a
path straight to the lake of fire.
But where was my
dedication to sharing Jesus with the elderly neighbor next door or writing a
note to someone that I knew was hurting or simply spending time in the presence
of my Father telling Him how much I love Him? If my obituary were written
today, I fear it would read “She was dedicated to four hours on the internet
every day, rain or shine.”
Not anymore. I
resolve to refocus my life on the eternal. Then perhaps one day my obituary will read “Her
life was dedicated to the One she loved.”
Father,
this moment I dedicate my life to you. Show me what I can change so that I am
totally devoted to you and to your service. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
R.A.P. it up
. . .
Reflect
- What
activity in your everyday life takes up the majority of your time and
energy?
- Does it
have anything to do with serving the Lord and telling others about Him?
Apply
- Take
the time to journal your activities, day by day, for one week.
- At the
end of the week, group all your activities together under two titles: “For
Me” and “For the Lord.” In which group did you dedicate the most time and
effort? Prayerfully change your daily focus as needed.
Power
- John
7:18 (NIV) “He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself,
but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth;
there is nothing false about him.”
- Matthew
21:37 (NIV) “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and all your mind.”
- Romans
12:1,2 (NIV) “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to
offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is
your spiritual act of worship.”
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