The Spirit of Dedication
And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy,
Ezra 6:16 KJV
In today’s fast-paced world, where instant gratification seems to dominate, the spirit of dedication toward anything floats as an afterthought. Yet, dedication is the unwavering commitment to something meaningful that sets us apart and propels us toward success. Like the former exiled Israelites, their dedication to rebuilding the Temple led them to celebrate God, which included the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread. The significance of this dedication continues to pass to each generation, even today, in the Jewish community. So, I ponder what is so significant that I must value it to pass it to the next generation.
As I pondered, I became increasingly interested in the concept of dedication. For instance, in any career, dedication is supreme. Dedication is the fuel that ignites productivity. Dedicated workers go above and beyond, consistently delivering outstanding results. They are willing to put in the extra hours, take on new challenges, and continuously improve their skill set. Their dedication inspires their colleagues. Even in the passage above, the dedication by the Levites and priests set the stage for the Passover celebration when the Temple was completed. So, dedication becomes significant in our everyday lives, which we must value to pass on to our children, their children, and so on.
When you become passionate about anything, dedication will become equally vital. Your passion will place dedication in the driver’s seat pushing through every obstacle when adversity becomes a hindrance. Dedication enables us to turn our passion into reality. Dedication is not just about hard work and determination; it is about a deep sense of purpose and commitment to our passion.
Thinking about how the exiled Israelites celebrated the dedication of the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem reminds me to pass my dedication on. So, in the present moment, ask yourself this similar question: Do you demonstrate the same dedication toward your passion as you do to other essential aspects of your life? In other words, are we dedicated to our passion?
