Hopefully Devoted — To God
“…having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life… those who have believed in God should be careful to devote themselves to good works… Let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.”
— Epistle to Titus 3:7–8, 14 (ESV)
As I write this, I’m sitting in my Steelers jersey and WC baseball hat — and I’m preaching to myself as much as anyone.
The enemy is very good at giving us things to be devoted to. For Sandra Dee it was Danny Zuko. For us, it may be sports teams, school activities, careers, our children’s success, home projects, vacations, or the endless scroll on our phones. None of those things are inherently wrong — but they are temporary. Even my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers have no eternal kingdom value.
Paul reminds Titus that those who have been justified by grace — declared righteous because of Christ — now live with a different hope. Our devotion shifts because our eternity is secure. We are not working to earn salvation; we are responding to grace already given.
For those of us who trust in Jesus, grace should move us outward:
To love God.
To love one another.
To love our neighbors.
Paul says there are “urgent needs” all around us. The greatest need is salvation. There are people in Woodland — perhaps even some reading this — who have not yet recognized their sin or their need for a Savior. That is not said with judgment, but with compassion. Apart from Christ, all of us are spiritually lost.
There are also urgent physical and emotional needs sitting next to us in classrooms, neighborhoods, and even our own homes. Some are quiet. Some are hidden. But they are real.
So here is the question for all of us — whether you are walking closely with Jesus or still considering what you believe:
What are you devoted to?
If you belong to Christ, remember: your hope is not in comfort, success, or distraction. It is in Him alone. And that hope produces fruit — tangible love expressed in good works.
If you are unsure about Jesus, consider this: the things of this world promise fulfillment but cannot sustain it. The gospel offers something different — forgiveness, belonging, and eternal hope that cannot be taken away.
Because our hope is secure in God, we are free to loosen our grip on temporary things and devote ourselves to what truly lasts.
May we not be “hopelessly devoted” to this world — but joyfully, steadily, and faithfully devoted to the Lord.