Toward the end of his life, Dr. Boreham made it his aim to preach and write in such a way that "people could catch a vision of the Saviour." Boreham felt that if people could only but see Jesus for who He really is, "they would have no alternative but to lay their devotion at His feet." (Crago, p. 237) He made it his end-of-life aim to reveal the irresistible beauty of Jesus. He hoped that this would lead more Australians to devote themselves to Christ, rather than be merely more religious.
If a person has never 'seen' Jesus the best they can possibly do is to be religious. Any appeal for devotion to Christ sounds like a call to be more religious. And the last thing most Australians want to be is: more religious. Jesus calls people to not just follow Him, but to be exclusively devoted to Him.
¶ "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Matthew 6:24
To discuss the virtues of a devoted life to Christ without a glimpse of the irresistible beauty of Jesus, is like trying to describe the colour red to a person born blind. Devotion to Christ must start with a revelation vision of Christ. I've been pastoring for over two decades. I've learned the difference between formally religious folk (those who have "made a decision", "given their heart", "prayed the prayer") and those who have actually met The Christ (those whose hearts have been gloriously conquered by the radiant warmth of the light of Christ's face).
For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Second Corinthians 4:6
Summon the devoted to greater devotion and their hearts are stirred and they worship (Romans 12:1-3). Summon the religious to greater devotion and their hearts close and they groan (Heb. 13:7). When Jesus began building His Church, this was the immediate result -
All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
¶ And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers..
Acts 1:14, 2:42
They devoted themselves to prayer, teaching, fellowship, and worship. And followers of Christ still do and delight to do so. This is why church is not merely a noun it is a verb. This Christmas we are reminded that the God who deserves devotion gave his Best. Surely this is the essence of devotion? It is the inescapable fruit of the true worshiper because, as we know, a worshiper always becomes like what they worship.
Devotion not religion please.
Ps. Andrew
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