de·vout –adjective: earnest or sincere;
I live in a place full of devout people. There is hardly a part of their day that does center on their earnest and sincere desire to please the deities. I learned of a conversation that happened in our yard some time ago where the lady that lives on the property here with us was talking to our previous helper. She said they had prayed and prayed for healing but nothing was happening. Our helper told her she needed to ask Jesus because Jesus would help. That family has shown some very sincere interest in learning about Jesus. They are also very devout. I don’t know if they prayed to Jesus, but I know I often have. I know it doesn’t always go the way I want either.
It seems obvious that there is a danger in telling people that Jesus will just do what they want if they ask. The bible says so, but with stipulations:
John 14:12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Note the catch, there are tons of verses like this, but there are stipulations for instance in this one there is “so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.” and “anyone who HAS faith in me.”
It is incredible how many people meet Jesus here because He does exactly what He promised. He answers some really steep requests for the devout people here that seek Him. Then there is us. Maybe because we are not desperate, maybe we still have too many things “figured out.” Whatever the reason, I see these folks and find myself challenged. Whether they are Christian, Buddhist, or Hindu I am challenged. I can see they are devout, they do so many things. The things they do are not like the things Jesus wants us to do, but I am not so devout in those things as my friends are in the other things. Ringing bells, spreading flowers and other offerings… they hardly miss a chance. What does Jesus want? He wants us to LOVE. It’s the greatest command, that we LOVE our neighbor. Can I be devout in that? Might I hardly miss a chance to worship God that way?
Still learning,
-ICA