A Long Walk Through... Ephesians: God's Devotion

Devotion is greater than determination. Where determination sets the mind on something, devotion sets the whole self upon it. Heart, soul, affection, will. Consider what Paul says in chapter 1 verse 1. He was made an apostle, He was called to the purposes of God by the will of God.

The will of God is the devotion of God. It is the heart, affection and purposes of God shaped by the character of God. It is the will of God that allows us to be part of the family of God and to serve the purposes of God. It is the will of God that sets us apart for God and frees us to be faithful to God.

So what we see at work in the life of Paul and, as we often slowly understand the things that God has called us to in our lives as we seek to live for Him, we begin to see at work in our own lives is this: God set His heart on us. Now even writing that here feels ridiculous.

God, who exists before and beyond time, who created the world we live in and every inch of the universe that we can see and that exists beyond our sight and comprehension, who is perfect in any way and doesn't rely upon or require anything or anyone else for His existence... He set His heart on someone like me and he set His heart on someone like you. That is amazing.

Yet the LORD set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them. Deuteronomy 10:15

He did that for no other reason than His character is one of kindness and love. He set His heart upon you... what is holding you back from setting your heart, soul, affection on will on Him and His ways today?