When was the last time you spoke of your devotion to God? Is it something that you and I as believers take for granted? In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul used the example of slaves and masters to illustrate the devotion we need in serving Christ. This would have been very familiar to the early Christians as it was common practice during Roman times and many of them were slaves not free men. Ephesians 6:5-8 “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.
Paul uses several ‘heart’ words in describing how are to treat others whether they be in authority over us or working alongside us. We are to serve with sincerity of heart. False or fake love for others will not show devotion and love of God to them. We need to work in serving others to fulfill God’s desires not our own. We have to work and act from our whole heart not just a portion reserved for showing God’s love. Paul is describing pure devotion to God that is shown in our heart attitude and our willingness to serve Him. God wants us loving the world regardless of where we find ourselves. This is a tall order that can only be accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit living within us. 
Jesus can make all things possible. We need to walk each day in His love with a sincere, devoted heart for the world to see.
May you experience God’s love and power as you strive to be devoted to Him with your heart.
Linda
In Ephesians 4:32 Paul tell us what actions and thoughts would be Christ honoring in our lives. “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
“The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.” Paul wants to know if our love for others comes from a heart overflowing with love for Jesus. He needs to be the source of our love. In 2 Timothy 2:22 Paul encourages believers to look for others who share the purity of heart that you find in Jesus. “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” He wants Timothy and us to chose friends that will encourage us towards right living and not worldly pursuits.
has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” Claim it today in Christ alone! Then look for fellow believers to encourage your new pure heart and your desire to love and serve Jesus.
I love this verse in 1 Peter because it holds me accountable and tells me where my commitment needs to be. God wants us committed to Him, loving and acting in our world with words of Hope for unbelievers and words of encouragement in that Hope for fellow believers. Who will you tell today about the HOPE you have in Jesus?
3:16-19. “
What about you? Do you feel sincere love for others because you know Jesus? Do you feel that the love God showed to you by sending Jesus makes you love Him even more? A truly transformed heart is a heart filled with faith in Jesus that manifests itself in our lives by love for God and others. If you feel you lack this kind of love, ask God for it. Love for others is a God thing and when we are lacking He tells us to ask Him. Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:7-8 
The New Testament believers lived together supporting one another in their new faith. Acts 2:46 describes them. “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,” Their encounter with Jesus reflected on their day to day life and gave them glad and generous hearts to view their world. Does your faith create in you a sense of thankfulness? Are you filled with Joy simply 
because you know Jesus?
10:23 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Jesus keeps His promises. Trust Him to give you generosity, joy and peace today.
God desires a repentant heart, one that is sorrowing over sin, which the Bible describes as contrite. 
Micah describes it this way: “
Psalms is filled with images of the heart. Today think about some of these and see if you can identify and claim them for your own heart towards God.
A heart filled with Praise and Gratitude
Prayer
Jesus knew the heart of man is where the problems lie. The Pharisee’s desired to destroy Jesus out of greed, envy, jealousy and hatred. It had nothing to do with eating ‘unclean food’ with ‘unclean hands’. Jesus knows our hearts too. He knows our true motives and desires. Our hearts are bent toward self-gratification, self-glory, self-power and self-adulation. It comes from a heart that is not right with God. An old hymn calls it a sin sick heart that is in need of saving, cleaning and setting right before God. We can not deny the true nature of our hearts but we can bring our hearts to God and allow Him to transform and make our hearts clean before Him. Jesus gave us this new way to reconciliation with God. Hebrews 10:21-23 describes this power, “
permanent. 
