Duty & Devotion
David Timms is a professor at Hope University in California. I met him 5 years ago and have subscribed to his weekly e-letter ever since. He is an ever thoughtful writer who speaks pastorally and prophetically to leaders in our culture. Here’s a recent article that especially resonates with me.
“Apart from love, obedience is simply an act of obligation.
As a response to love, duty becomes an act of devotion.”
David Benner, Surrender to Love, p.64.
Occasionally I see fully devoted followers of Christ. Occasionally I am one. Just occasionally.
It’s not that I don’t read Scripture, pray, attend church services, give, serve others, and even preach and teach. It’s that I don’t love—not sufficiently, not consistently, not deeply, not unreservedly, yet. And love forms the foundation for true devotion.
It’s relatively easy to structure my life around duty. I’ve spent my lifetime working hard to meet the expectations of others. Those of us who struggle to say “No” place high importance on the opinions and approval of others. We do our duty to receive their admiration.
But “fully devoted” and “deeply dutiful” reflect different sources.
As Jesus faced the journey toward Jerusalem, He did so out of devotion not duty. He faced His approaching death not from obligation—some divine plan that must be accomplished, no questions asked—but because He loved so deeply; His Father, us. He did not endure the cross to fulfill His duty but to display His devotion.
Richard Foster describes spiritual disciplines as “those things we can do, that allow God to enable us to do what we cannot do, such as loving our enemies.” Thus, all the external rites, rituals and habits that we call Christian have two goals; enablement and intimacy.
Disciplines done out of duty fail to touch the heart and inevitably collapse for most of us. Indeed, the lover never considers time given to his Beloved a “discipline.” Instead, love reframes it as an “opportunity.”
Devotees read Scripture not for information but transformation; not to get God’s attention but to lovingly give Him their attention. They fast (from television, food, internet, or whatever) not to impress Him but to press into Him.
The Christian journey, in its richest moments, finds its fuel not in law but in love. Our faith comes alive not with teeth-gritting determination but with loving devotion. We enter the deepest joy as we engage the heart, not just the head.
Jonathan Edwards, who lived and preached during the Great Awakening in 18th century America, noted that “throughout the Bible, true religion is placed in the affections.” Learning to love Christ, then, provides the transition from duty to devotion.
May the Father guide our journey into more consistent, deep, and unreserved love for Him. And may He shape us to become more devoted (rather than dutiful) followers of Jesus … even this week.
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