Monday Morning Munch No. 63 – Pure and Sincere Devotion

The following is an excerpt from my journal entry on Nov. 4, 2013.

But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. –2 Corinthians 11:3

What does a pure and sincere devotion to Christ look like?

My first thoughts are that I should look within myself and measure it by what I can do or am doing or am capable of. But looking within is never the answer.

Looking to other people for a standard or guide isn’t the answer either. Paul tells the Corinthians just a few verses later:

“Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness” [vss. 14-15].

Of course, that’s not the only reason we shouldn’t compare ourselves. But we already know those reasons.

Paul continues in verse 30 to give us an indication of what a sincere and pure devotion to Christ looks like:

“If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” 

Do I boast?
Yes.
Do I boast of my weakness?
No. Nope. No way.

We do the opposite… it’s human nature.

Which should be the precise reason we stand against it and run in the opposite direction.

Lord, help me to embrace my weaknesses, to boast of them even so my weak heart will look to the One who is stronger than the strong man–You.

“For He was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but in dealing with you we will live with Him by the power of God.” –2 Corinthians 13:4

There it is.

That’s what a pure and sincere devotion to Christ looks like.

It’s not about studying your bible more, going to church more, praying more, writing in our journal more, it’s not about DOING MORE.

It’s about clinging to Christ, embracing your weakness and fixing our gaze on the only One whose strength and power will enable us to live a life that glorifies and exalts Jesus Christ.

May we stay on guard for the enemy’s cunning and not be led away from a pure and sincere devotion to the One who trampled death by death and continually fights for us.