In high school, I remember thinking about some persons as ‘holier than thou’. That was a clarification that speaks for itself; yet, it is sometimes misappropriated to describe persons with a genuine heart for Jesus. I dare say that if holier than thou is about a yearning to be like Mary, at Y’shua’s feet, then I’d like to be holier than thou. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat.
Colossians 4:2 NIV
[2] Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Total Devotion
The instructions for daily living in the Land of Promise given in the Hebrew scripture offer a picture of what both devotion and appearances could look like. We’re told that the nascent nation was commanded to teach the very laws at all times. This not only centred conversations around God’s Word but also included showing others one’s intent and desire to stay focused on God. Such demonstrations of piety and ‘purity’ (or holiness) were exceptionally public. They bound scripture in the forehead and forearm and decorated their doorposts and gates with the same. No one could doubt their dedication to God. It also presented potential for hypocrisy, as wearing the Word doesn’t always mean that we’re living God’s Word. (It probably also explains David’s assertion, ‘Thy word have I hidden in my heart, that I may not sin against You.’) It is equally important to live one’s faith as it is to know God’s Word and quote scripture.
Self-Check
How do we live our faith boldly these days? Are we guilty of merely keeping up spiritual appearances?
Application
Devoting ourselves to prayer or praying without ceasing does not require continued public action. Rather, it is a call to be continuously engaged with our Triune God, out loud, in our hearts, and in our minds. For if prayer is about communicating with God, it is a two-way process: conversation isn’t one-sided. So sometimes we speak, but we must also devote ourselves to listening for God’s responses and instructions to us.
This kind of active prayer life ought to: keep us out of trouble, help us to understand and apply scripture to real-life contexts, and depeens our relationship with God. Over time, it becomes devotion. Not holier than thou, but steadfastly rooted in a rhythm of ongoing conversations with God.
Point to Ponder
What does true devotion to God look like to us; and is that what it looks like in our daily lives?
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May all we seek be found in Christ
