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January 28
Upright Devotion
Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. — Luke 2:25 BSB
He was just in all his dealings with people and devout in his relationship with God. It takes both these qualities to make true religion. Some people are just but not devout. They are scrupulously honest in all their dealings with others, yet they never think of God or their duties toward Him. They don’t pray, praise, or love God. Their whole “religion” is simply honesty toward their fellow humans, while they ignore God, their Creator and Redeemer, to whom they owe everything. But this kind of religion is not true religion at all.
While it’s important to be just and honest in our dealings with others, we owe our first and highest duties to God. We are His creatures, saved by His grace if we are saved at all. We owe Him obedience, faith, love, honor, and service. So, we must be devout as well as just. On the other hand, some people are devout but not just. They attend worship services, sing and pray, but during the week, they are unjust, greedy, or oppressive. This kind of religion doesn’t please God either. He wants us to honor Him not just with our words but also with our actions.
God’s commandments are twofold: we are to love Him with all our heart, and we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. The two must go together. True religion is both devotion to God and justice toward others.