The Language of Devotion

How do you understand and receive love? Dr. Gary Chapman wrote a book on the subject over 30 years ago that couples still read with interest – Five Love Languages. He opines that there are five basic ways that marital love is demonstrated -

Words of Affirmation: communicating affection through spoken and written praise, appreciation, encouragement, and frequent “I love you’s”.
Quality Time: expressing love by fully focusing attention on your partner through shared activities, conversation, and togetherness.
Physical Touch: showing care through intimate and affectionate physical contact like hugging, kissing, and sex.
Acts of Service: doing thoughtful deeds and gestures to help make your partner’s life easier by relieving burdens.
Receiving Gifts: giving meaningful surprises and symbolic presents to celebrate affection.

Chapman believes that each one of us ‘speaks’ one of those languages as our primary way of seeking love and affection and that if people in marriage learn to understand their own language and that of their spouse, the bonds of their affection grow stronger and richer. Interesting, isn’t it?  

So, let me ask you this today –
what is your primary language of devotion and worship in your relationship with God?

Yesterday, in the afternoon, I wandered into the sanctuary of our church and sat down at the grand piano. For about 15 minutes I played worship songs and hymns as my soul communed with God. Music is a primary language of devotion to me. The lyrics of hymns become the words of my prayers and meditations. Nothing beats “Great is Thy Faithfulness, O God, my Father. There is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!” 

Others express their devotion in serving others, particularly those in difficult situations. As they distribute food at the church’s pantry, they praise the Father.  When they care for sick friend, their heart is moved into His Presence.

Some stand along a river or climb and mountain and as they do, their love language for God is a deep appreciation of that which He has created.

Eric Liddell, a Scottish Christian and athlete at the 1924 Olympics, a man whose accomplishments were made famous in the movie, Chariots of Fire, had a unique language of devotion - “I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.”

C. S. Lewis, after his conversion to Christianity, poured out his devotion in his many books and essays.  Theologians study and defend the doctrines of faith to express their worship.

So, what is your language of devotion?
How do you experience God’s joy and the wonder of worship?

That is worthy of some thought, my friend, for we are made to worship. When we speak our language of devotion with excellence, we praise and lift up our God. And, we also become closer to Him, deeper in faith.

While I do hope you find yourself in a church and in focused ‘worship’ with other Christians on a regular basis, I also pray that you experience God’s Presence in a way that fills up your soul.

The word from the Word today invites us to love Him.
“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.

For the Lord is the great God,
the great King above all gods.

In his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.

The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.

Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
for he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care.”  (Psalm 95)

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Completely Dependent

Forty years ago, my household included 4 children who were completely dependent on their parents, little ones who needed provisions of food, clothing, emotional support, and shelter. Today, though those same people love their Dad, they are independent, fully capable of caring for themselves. The truth is that their abilities have now exceeded mine. They have become amazing people, each in their own way.

There is a relationship that none of us outgrows – being a child of God! 

Even as we mature in life and in faith, we must remain utterly dependent on Him if we want to know the best of what He has in store for us. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3)

Our loving Father desires our dependence. He created us to know and love Him. He delights in us, cares for us, and has provided an eternal home for us. Jesus describes the Father’s care. “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So, if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” (Matthew 7) Human parental care and love pales in comparison to the eternal love of our Father.

I remember those turbulent years as my children became teenagers, seeking more independence from me. It was difficult to navigate the best path, giving the counsel and guidance they still needed, even as I released them into their world. It was natural for them to want to find their own path and yet I had a responsibility to try to help them avoid the difficulties that they could not see. Eventually, our relationship was redefined. I became a friend and counselor, but no longer am I the primary resource in their lives.

The pattern does not hold for our spiritual life. We never move on from our Father in heaven, having achieved self-sufficiency. We may enjoy an illusion of independence for a time, thinking that we have life well in hand and under our control but … reality is far different. In a moment, life can turn inside out for us. Disappointments come, disasters strike, death visits. All are reminders of just how fragile life is and teach of our need for God’s fathering care.

Are you in His care? You can be, by faith, as you receive the gift of rebirth! “To all who believed him and accepted him, (Jesus Christ) he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.” (John 1)

When the Spirit calls you into the family of God, when you are reconciled to your Father. Yes, in Christ, possibilities are released in us and for us – identity, intimacy, inheritance.

Are you living in a way that invites the Spirit to lead you to discover the full expectation of Your Father?
Lean on Him in faith.
In prayer bring every request – big or small – to Him.
Actively desire to be guided by His wisdom.
These are your rights as His child. Treasure that relationship.

Meditate on this word from the Word. Here the Spirit reminds that our full rights as children of God are fully declared, but as yet not fully realized. Pray for faith to accept what He has said, so that you will live to fully inherit His promise.

"Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." (Romans 8:14-17, NIV)

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