Decidedly Devoted

“Every devoted thing is most holy unto the LORD” (Leviticus 27:28).   “Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD.  Praise ye the LORD” (Psalm 150:6).  “The thoughts of the righteous are right” (Proverbs 12:5).  “Behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews?… When they… saw the young Child… [they] fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” (Matthew 2:1-11). 

There is a season to devote

Ourselves to God before our death: 

With this in mind, the psalmist wrote

To praise the Lord when we have breath! 

This call goes out to all God’s own

To be a living sacrifice;

Our life belongs to Christ alone

Since He has bought us with a price. 

When we are truly thinking right,

We serve our God in every season

And love the Lord with all our might,

For He has given ample reason! 

We are not called to blind devotion;

We love the Lord with open eyes! 

His love is like a shoreless ocean,

And those who worship Him are wise. 

We surely see this very thing

When wise men in Jerusalem

Had come to worship Christ the King

And found Him then in Bethlehem. 

Their hearts were filled with heaven’s joy

As they beheld Emmanuel!  

The Word made flesh, this little Boy,

Had come to save their souls from hell!

They opened each devoted treasure

Of myrrh, of frankincense, and gold,

And yet they had the single pleasure

Of worshipping the Christ foretold. 

Our treasures differ, Lord, You know,

Yet You are pondering our hearts.

We only give what You bestow,

Devoting what Your grace imparts. 

O Lord, the gifts that matter most

Are surely in Your Word promoted: 

A heart of love that does not boast,

Our soul, and strength to You devoted.

Decidedly, Lord, we surrender

Our heart, our soul, our strength, and mind,

And show the lost Your love so tender

Which You are calling them to find.