Single-Minded Devotion
“Elijah went before the people and said,‘How long will you waver between
two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow
him.’ But the people said nothing.”–1 Kings 18:21 (NIV)
Commitment is not as elusive or difficult as some initially think.
In fact, everyone is committed to many things in varying
degrees. Scripture and experience, however, testify that total
commitment to the true and living God can be more difficult.
That’s partly because commitment to Him is to be our top and
guiding pledge, requiring single-minded devotion and total
dedication (e.g., Rom 12:1-2).
As we approach 1 Kings 18, many Israelites had followed King
Ahab and Jezebel into wholehearted idolatrous worship of Baal.
They remained passive while a death warrant was issued and
carried out on God’s prophets. Now, Elijah’s question pierces
their apathy and forces them to face up to their loyalty lapse.
Until then, they had been double-minded, not willing to choose
between God and Baal. Most of us have made the ultimate
choice of our Master. And yet even we still need to periodically
reaffirm and realign our allegiance.
“Double-mindedness” speaks of one who tries to split his or her
energies between the struggle and system of the culture and the
role and rule of Christ. Jesus announces in Luke 11:23: “He who
is not with me is against me.” Others, like James, also urge us
not to vacillate between two allegiances:
“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with
the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a
friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” (4:4; cf. 1:5-9;
4:1-10; Ps 119:113).
Divided hearts only multiply our problems!
On the other hand, we’re called to serve a single Master (e.g.,
Matt 6:24) while we firmly “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and
perfecter of our faith” (Heb 12:2; cf. Ps 141:8; Matt 6:22). Let’s
not be like “the people [who] said nothing” to Elijah’s challenge.
Instead, let us be like those after the miracle in 1 Kings 18 who
“fell prostrate and cried, ‘The LORD—he is God! The LORD—
He isGod!’”(v. 39).You’ll be on thewinning side every time (v. 40)!
For Discussion:Brainstorma full list of the various things you’re committed
to.Do or could any of those things contribute to double-mindedness?How?
Pick one as an example and discuss a step you can take this week to
cultivate more single-minded devotion to God.
