A Life of Dedication

When Jesus was a few months old his parents took Him to the temple to dedicate Him to the Lord as the law required. When they arrived they were met by two elderly people named Simeon and Anna. Simeon knew that in his lifetime he would see the Messiah and Anna was a widow who never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

Moved by the Spirit, Simeon went into the temple courts and when he saw the child he took Him in his arms and praised God. Coming up to them at that very moment, Anna also gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Simeon and Anna were quite advanced in years and their lives are proof that God can make every season of life meaningful and useful. The long years of widowhood were also effective years of worship and service. Both she and Simeon dedicated their lives to God and were rewarded in ways we can only fully appreciate if we are willing to live the same way.

To dedicate yourself is to answer God’s call to spiritual consecration. This means making a conscious, willing decision to dedicate your soul, mind, heart, and body to God. This decision must be one of will, intelligence, and affection. Only you can make the decision to consecrate yourself to God. As believers this act of dedication takes place when we confess our sins, are baptized and choose to live for Christ.

There are practical things you can do to draw closer to God. Regular prayer is one of the most important. Weekly worship at a church and study of the Scriptures are two other common and highly effective practices. Any activity that allows you to keep God as the focus of your life and encourages you to approach God can be used as a tool for that purpose.

Dedication is not a single, one-time-only decision. It is a way of living. When you make the decision to dedicate yourself, you must be prepared to continue pursuing God for the rest of your life.

Be Intentional about dedicating your life to God.

Praises & Prayers

Father, I want to dedicate my life to You. I don’t know all that will be required or how long I have on this earth, but I want to live the rest of my days in meaningful service to my Savior. Thank you for working in my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Messages from His Word

1 Kings 8:61

Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day.

Isaiah 51:1

Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn.