Enjoyment Through Devotion

 
The lifestyle of John the Baptist would catch the eye of someone from any culture. Baptism was not a command in the Old Testament. So, to see a man submerging people into a river to raise them back up would draw the curiosity of many to go and see why this action was taking place.  On top of that, as people would come closer, they would see John, who, with the coarse material of camel's hair for his clothing, would not represent the image of royalty¹. Finally, his diet consisted of “locusts and honey” (Matt. 3:4). Nothing of John’s lifestyle would reflect or promise imminent enjoyment of life.
John’s lack of concern for comfort helped express his devotion to preach a message of repentance to encourage people to prepare for the kingdom of heaven (Matt 3:2). It is beneficial for us to realize the seriousness of devotion and how it relates to vows.  One Bible scholar defines a vow as “a voluntary expression of devotion usually fulfilled after some condition had been met,” usually that of an “if…then” statement².
Our lives revolve around “if...then” statements. If we pay our mortgage, then we get to enjoy our house. If we pay our bills, then we get to enjoy WiFi, running water, on-demand electricity, and many other subscriptions and services. But are these material components the essence or focus of our devotion for life? When our devotion is aimed at God through Jesus Christ, then we will will live to be devoted to the vow that God gave to Moses: “if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exo. 19:5-6).  When our life expresses our devotion, then our enjoyment will be found in the promises of God and go beyond a material experience. Take steps to express your devotion to God so He may give you the enjoyment of a lifetime.

1. Freeman, James M., and Harold J. Chadwick. 1998. Manners & Customs of the Bible. North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos Publishers.
2. Langston, Scott. 2003. “Vows.” In Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, edited by Chad Brand, Charles Draper, Archie England, Steve Bond, E. Ray Clendenen, and Trent C. Butler, 1655. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.