Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ~ John 15:13
Lots of life has happened since we last met up here, BUT... will you come sit with me for a minute while I share some thoughts…
With the observation of Veteran’s Day coming up the words Duty and Devotion keep coming to my mind.
How do you define duty? How do you define devotion?
Do you believe you can have duty without devotion? What about devotion without duty?
Duty - a moral or legal obligation; a responsibility. A task or action that someone is required to perform.
Devotion - love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or cause.
Does your motivation determine duty vs devotion?
- The end result, the paycheck, the pat on the back, being good at doing your job, doing what you’re told to do?
- Or selflessly putting others first, regardless of the end result or how it may impact you?
Is one a head issue and one a heart issue? Concentration vs consecration?
I know I am full of questions! I guess just lots swirling around in my brain today!
Just bear with me while I share a little story?
Quite a few years ago, my Hubby and I went to visit Washington D.C. Being Luke had been a Captain in the Army Reserve… I really wanted him to experience Arlington National Cemetery. I had been there before as a teen… I could still remember the impact this sacred place had on me then and I just knew how impactful it would be for Luke too.
We were only in D.C. for a day, so we had to be very strategic in our plan to see things in order of importance! First stop was Arlington. Just as we arrived, the clouds opened up and started to pour! I was so mad… like a spoiled brat… I did everything but stop my feet! I felt so bad that Luke’s “experience” was ruined by the dumb rain.
My Hubby being “the glass half full” kind of guy that he is… shook some sense into me (figuratively of course). We proceeded to walk through the cemetery despite the steamy buckets of rain dumping on us.
When we got to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, we found a building where we could get out of the rain to wait for the changing of the guard, yet still see it as it happened. As I watched this soldier walking back and forth in front of the tomb in the pouring rain… I thought to myself, “What duty! What devotion!” My heart became so heavy with conviction of my misguided aggravation and temper tantrum over this silly rain. How could I have been so focused on my plan for our “experience” that I lost sight of how we were there to show honor for the sacrifice given.
Ouch! God surely had a lesson for me to learn in all of this!
As we continued to walk through Arlington cemetery… the final resting place of so many that gave their lives for love of country... duty and devotion for most, I'm sure! The sky cleared up and it stopped raining. Hmmm… God’s timing is always right… lesson learned!
I know there are many times we let circumstances cloud our desire to wait for what God has for us. Instant gratification is the theme of the day!
We can go through the day focused on getting each task done (duty) in the way we want it done… concentrating on the steps to our goal! Rather shortsighted on our part!
For me… when I take the time to focus on God first… putting on the armor of faith (Ephesians 6:10-18)… to find my devotion to God and all that He has for me on this day… really changes things!
Duty without devotion is like living a life without passion! Like popcorn without salt and butter! 😉
I understand you may have a job that is not really where you want to be or what you want to be doing, BUT… what if…
…whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. ~ Colossians 3:17
Just some thoughts… thanks for stopping to share a moment with me!
In His Grace, carin
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