Moments with my First Love [UNDER REVISION]

MOMENT 14: Devote yourself to Devotion

Napansin mo ba kung gaano kadaling maubos ang oras natin sa mga bagay na mahalaga sa atin? Kapag paborito mo ang isang serye sa Netflix, kaya mong mag-marathon magdamag. Kapag in-love ka sa isang tao, gagawin mo ang lahat kahit magpupuyat ka sa magdamag na chatting or video call. Mayroon pa 'yong isang hardcore gamer na kayang mag-grind sa rank game nang walang patayan o isang solid fan na handang pumila sa ulan at tirik na sikat ng araw para lang sa concert ng paborito niyang K-pop group. At sa lahat ng ito, hindi mo mararamdamang napipilitan ka—ginagawa mo ito dahil gusto mo.

We naturally pour our time and energy into what we truly value. And this is what we call devotion. Have you ever heard it?

In its original Latin context, devotio means a formal vow or a total surrender of oneself. Ito 'yong radikal na pagbibigay ng buong sarili sa isang bagay o sa isang tao dahil sa malalim na pagmamahal at katapatan. All those everyday examples of binge-watching, gaming, or waiting in line are just modern reflections of devotio. Ipinapakita lang nito na ang tao, by nature, ay madaling ibigay ang buong puso kapag nakatagpo ng bagay na talagang mahalaga sa kanya.

This is exactly how devotion works when we are in a relationship. Completely committed ka sa partner mo. Hindi mo sila kinakausap dahil lang sa obligasyon mo ito bilang partner. You do it out of love. At dahil may buhay at personal tayong relasyon kay Jesus, we also have that same deep commitment to Him.

But if we're going to be honest with ourselves, do we feel the same way when it comes to God? O baka naman mas madalas na "pagod na ako" ang nauunang dahilan kaya hindi natin Siya nabibigyan ng oras?

When you are in a romantic relationship, committed ka talaga sa partner mo. Hindi mo sila tinitiis at hindi mo sila kinakausap dahil lang sa kailangan o dahil obligasyon mo ito. You do it because you love them. At dahil may personal tayong relasyon kay Jesus, we also have a deep commitment to Him.

Ang totoong commitment ay hindi isang pabigat o obligasyon na ginagawa lang para matapos. It is always born out of love.

Devotion is our commitment as Christians. Hindi ito parang checklist na kailangang lagyan ng check araw-araw para lang hindi tayo makonsensya. It is our intimate and sacred moment of conversation with our loving God. Ito 'yong oras kung saan nagtatagpo ang puso natin at ang puso ng Ama.

Actually the early Church in Bible times showed how they lived out this kind of devotion...

"Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers." - Acts 12:14

This scenario in the passage took place right after the disciples encountered the resurrected Christ and saw Him ascend into heaven. Imagine the awe in their eyes no'ng pinapanood nilang umakyat si Jesus sa kalangitan!

What does it mean when the disciples saw Jesus' ascension? The ascension of Jesus proves that His Kingdom is in heaven, na Siya ang higit sa lahat at hindi natin Siya kapantay! Pinapakita nito na Siya lang ang may karapatang maghari sa buhay nating lahat. He is the King of kings.

Once we begin to truly understand that Jesus is Lord above all hindi na natin kailangang pilitin ang sarili nating lumapit sa Kanya. We will naturally have this deep initiative and burning passion to devote ourselves as disciples of Christ. Lordship inspires spontaneous devotion.

In verse 12, sinabi na bumalik sila "from the mount called Olivet... a Sabbath day's journey away." Ibig sabihin, nangyari ito sa panahon kung kailan limitado pa ang paglalakbay dahil hindi pa Araw ng Pamamahinga (it was not yet Sunday). Pero sa verse 13, makikita natin na ang mga alagad ay agad na dinala sa upper room.