October 5, 2025 • 14 mins
In this episode, Sean discusses the difference between devotion and commitment. This message is based upon an amazing speech that he heard early in the week from his mentor Frank Khalil. How would you live if you knew you were only here until midnight tonight? This question guides our discussion.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:10):
Good morning everybody. This is Sean Copeland. Today is Sunday,
October the fifth, and welcome to another brand new, life
changing edition of the ninety four x Kingdom Driven CEO.
Thank you, thank you all so much. What a beautiful
week in Oklahoma. It is fall this morning. I got
(00:33):
up and had a quick workout and it was in
the sixties. It is absolutely fantastic. We got a big
day today. We're headed over. My youngest daughter is getting
initiated into her sister's sobriety, so that is very exciting.
I've got double sisters. Man had to touch down and
(00:54):
another good game Friday night. The team is now five
and zero in football. And it was a very very
very productive week for me and Angela at work and
we tried our first Saturday night church service, so we
went to a church here in town at five o'clock
last night and then had a date night after I
(01:16):
went to dinner and that was super super fun. So
been a wonderful weekend. Although the OSU Cowboys still cannot
seem to win a game. So with that, let's move
into I want to talk with you guys a little
bit about devotion versus commitment, and let me tell you
where this comes from. On Wednesday morning, we had an
(01:38):
event here in Tulsa. It's a monthly event. It's called
Faith in Business, and Faith in Business is awesome. It
brings business leaders from across the community. We probably had
a couple hundred in attendance. We really packed out our
venue and we had a speaker by the name of
Frank Khalil. And Frank really has some impacted my life
(02:01):
and many many men's lives here in the Tulsa area
because he is the regional director for a ministry called
Influencers and a program called the Journey. It was really
a game changer for me and so I couldn't wait
to hear what Frank shared. And he talked a little
bit about this concept of devotion versus commitment, and it
(02:24):
got me thinking that this could be a great podcast
topic for us as leaders. The problem is here. Let
me just kind of give you the problem set here,
and that is so many of us say that we
are Christian business leaders, but we don't do anything different
(02:45):
in our business than anybody else. We run it just
the same way as everybody else. We don't bring our
faith in and it's because we are committed and we
are not devoted. So let me start out with a
question for you. If you knew you were being taken
to heaven tonight at midnight, how would you live? Would
(03:09):
you still be scrolling social media, cutting corners or coasting
through our faith or would we fall to our knees
praying like our lives dependent on it. Because they do
that question as a way of separating the committed versus
the devoted. And I'm going to tell you a little
bit about Frank So he turns fifty on Veterans Day.
(03:34):
He is a man who has given everything for his country,
his family, and his faith. He was a well his
story is remarkable. He grew up in Brazil, really felt called,
came to the US, attended a church camp, became saved,
and really felt called to come back to the US
(03:56):
in a ministry role. Convinced his parents to let him
come back all alone. He moved in with some family.
He ended up in law enforcement because he wanted to
serve his country, and then he was called into this
ministry of the journey, which was an enormous risk for him.
(04:16):
It's not the years that define us, remember, it's what
we're devoted to during those years. He told us a story.
He said his life was really changed when he personally
were familiar and involved with two boys. One from North Tulsa,
(04:38):
which is kind of the poor area of our city.
It is a more minority based African American largely more
crime there, less healthcare, just much more difficult than one
from South Tulsa. The South Tulsa is the area of
(05:01):
our city. And these boys mirrored that. The North Tulsa
boy his father had been shot in a gang shooting,
and the one from South Tulsa his father was a
CEO who was never home. So both boys were fatherless,
but both boys had potential, you know. They Basically the
(05:25):
problem is both boys were killed and their lives remind
us that it doesn't matter where we grow up. If
we don't have hope, if we don't have Jesus, we're
not going to make it. And so basically what he
(05:45):
began talking about was the difference between being all in
for the Lord, being devoted, or being in for the
Lord and being committed. Commitment is external, it's about showing up.
Devotion is internal, it's about pouring out. You can be
committed to something and not be devoted. You can go
(06:07):
to church every Sunday, read your Bible every Monday, tithe faithfully,
and still not be devoted to Jesus because devotion. Devotion
isn't about what's in our schedule. It's about what's in
our heart. Now, in baseball, basketball, or sales, a ninety
(06:28):
nine percent success rate would be phenomenal, right, I mean,
you would be in every hall of fame known to mankind.
But in marriage, try telling your spouse, honey, I'm going
to be ninety nine percent faithful to you, and I
am certain that you will be one hundred percent single.
(06:50):
That's how God feels when we give him almost everything
we want him to bless our business, protect our kids,
and guide our dreams, but we keep one percent away
from him. We keep control of one percent of our life.
Jesus is not looking for part time believers. He is
(07:10):
looking for a fully devoted bride, not a dating relationship.
Let me prove this to you. Matthew six point twenty
four says no one can serve two masters. You will
hate one and love the other. You can't be committed
to God and devoted to the world. Devotion means exclusive rights.
Everything revolves around him. John fifteen four and five. Abide
(07:34):
in Me and you will bear much fruit. Abiding is
what devotion looks like. When we are devoted to Him,
his presence flows into every part of our life. Commitment
is the first step. Devotion is the destination. You must
be committed before you can be devoted, no doubt. Commitment
says all show up. Devotion says all stay until it's finished.
(07:59):
Commitment gets you to church. Devotion makes you the church.
Commitment reads the Bible. Devotion lives the Bible. Commitment says
Jesus is my Savior. Devotion says Jesus is my Lord.
Something happened in Acts two that forever defined the early Church,
(08:19):
and this is Acts two forty two. It says they
devoted themselves to the apostles, teaching and to fellowship, to
the breaking of bread, and to prayer. Notice that it
doesn't say they committed themselves. It says they devoted themselves.
After Pentecost, everything changed. They weren't following a religion anymore.
They were following a person. They weren't committed to a
(08:42):
religious schedule. They were devoted to the Holy Spirit's leading.
So what does devotion look like today? Devotion looks like
turning down a business deal that is profitable but compromises
your integrity. Devotion is praying for you your enemies instead
of posting about them, serving in your home before serving
(09:04):
in public, loving your spouse and children sacrificially before loving success.
Romans twelve ten says, be devoted to one another in love,
honor one another above yourselves. Devotion re orders your priorities.
It puts home first and then business. It puts God first,
and then family, and it puts you last. The question
(09:26):
is where is the fruit? If we're truly devoted to Christ,
our lives should exude Christ in every area, not just
in worship, but in work, not just in devotionals, but
in decisions. Ask yourself, is my life bearing fruit? Are
people seeing Jesus? And how I handle pressure? When I
walk into a room? Do I bring peace or more drama?
(09:49):
Because fruit is the evidence of devotion. Colossians four to
two says devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful
one Timothy four fifteen says be diligent in these matters,
give yourself wholly to them. Titus three fourteen says our
people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good.
(10:10):
Devotion leads to diligence. Diligence leads to fruit, and fruit
leads to legacy and favor. There is a warning, however, here,
because the opposite of devotion is not laziness, it is pride.
Proverb of sixteen eighteen says pride goes before destruction and
(10:30):
a haughty spirit before a fall. It doesn't say it
says pride goes before. It doesn't say pride goes before
the fall. It says pride goes before destruction. That means
there's no recovery. Pride says I've got this. Devotion says God,
I need you. When pride rules your life, destruction follows.
(10:55):
When devotion rules your life, blessings chase you down. Frank
talked about when he saw his mom praying when he
was a kid, really praying, not a quick bedtime prayer,
but the kind that changes the atmosphere. At the time,
he didn't understand it, but he realizes now that that
(11:18):
was devotion. Commitment gets you to your knees. Devotion keeps
you there until Heaven moves. So if we knew we
were being taken today at midnight, how would you live today?
Would you give God ninety nine percent or one hundred percent.
Would we settle for being committed Christians or become devoted disciples.
(11:42):
God is not asking us for perfection, but he is
asking us for devotion. He wants your heart, your priorities,
your time, your business, and your future. So let's not
just commit to Christ. Let's be devoted to Him because
that's where the fruit is, that's where the joy is,
that's where the power of the Holy Spirit transforms ordinary
(12:04):
lives into eternal legacies. And in closing, let me just
share this with you. Matthew twenty two thirty seven says,
love the Lord your God with all your heart, all
your soul, and all your mind. Have you ever wondered
why excuse me? God called David a man after his
(12:25):
own heart. If you study the scriptures, what you will
find is that he says, David will do whatever I
ask of him. That is how he measures a man
after my own heart. Let's live that way today. Let's
don't be scared. Let's don't live our life lukewarm. Let's
(12:47):
don't be in the middle on the fence. Let's fully
live for him. Let's be bold, Let's make an impact.
Let's live as if we were being taken away for
from this earth at midnight tonight. Please pray with me
as we close. Father, thank you for calling us not
(13:08):
just a commitment, but to devotion. Please teach us to abide,
to prioritize, and to love you with everything that we are.
Help us to bear fruit that glorifies you and our homes,
our business, and our daily lives. Father, help us to
live as if we just have a short time here
(13:29):
because we do. It may not be tonight, it may
not be midnight, but it's not going to be long,
and we will be with you, and all of a
sudden you will ask us were you devoted or were
you just committed? Father, we love you. Help to transform
our lives today in Jesus' name A man and I
(13:51):
want to thank you all so much for joining this
edition of the ninety four X Kingdom Driven CEO Contentment.
Good morning everybody. This is Sean Copeland. Today is Sunday,
October the fifth, and welcome to another brand new, life
changing edition of the ninety four x Kingdom Driven CEO.
Thank you, thank you all so much. What a beautiful
week in Oklahoma. It is fall this morning. I got
(00:33):
up and had a quick workout and it was in
the sixties. It is absolutely fantastic. We got a big
day today. We're headed over. My youngest daughter is getting
initiated into her sister's sobriety, so that is very exciting.
I've got double sisters. Man had to touch down and
(00:54):
another good game Friday night. The team is now five
and zero in football. And it was a very very
very productive week for me and Angela at work and
we tried our first Saturday night church service, so we
went to a church here in town at five o'clock
last night and then had a date night after I
(01:16):
went to dinner and that was super super fun. So
been a wonderful weekend. Although the OSU Cowboys still cannot
seem to win a game. So with that, let's move
into I want to talk with you guys a little
bit about devotion versus commitment, and let me tell you
where this comes from. On Wednesday morning, we had an
(01:38):
event here in Tulsa. It's a monthly event. It's called
Faith in Business, and Faith in Business is awesome. It
brings business leaders from across the community. We probably had
a couple hundred in attendance. We really packed out our
venue and we had a speaker by the name of
Frank Khalil. And Frank really has some impacted my life
(02:01):
and many many men's lives here in the Tulsa area
because he is the regional director for a ministry called
Influencers and a program called the Journey. It was really
a game changer for me and so I couldn't wait
to hear what Frank shared. And he talked a little
bit about this concept of devotion versus commitment, and it
(02:24):
got me thinking that this could be a great podcast
topic for us as leaders. The problem is here. Let
me just kind of give you the problem set here,
and that is so many of us say that we
are Christian business leaders, but we don't do anything different
(02:45):
in our business than anybody else. We run it just
the same way as everybody else. We don't bring our
faith in and it's because we are committed and we
are not devoted. So let me start out with a
question for you. If you knew you were being taken
to heaven tonight at midnight, how would you live? Would
(03:09):
you still be scrolling social media, cutting corners or coasting
through our faith or would we fall to our knees
praying like our lives dependent on it. Because they do
that question as a way of separating the committed versus
the devoted. And I'm going to tell you a little
bit about Frank So he turns fifty on Veterans Day.
(03:34):
He is a man who has given everything for his country,
his family, and his faith. He was a well his
story is remarkable. He grew up in Brazil, really felt called,
came to the US, attended a church camp, became saved,
and really felt called to come back to the US
(03:56):
in a ministry role. Convinced his parents to let him
come back all alone. He moved in with some family.
He ended up in law enforcement because he wanted to
serve his country, and then he was called into this
ministry of the journey, which was an enormous risk for him.
(04:16):
It's not the years that define us, remember, it's what
we're devoted to during those years. He told us a story.
He said his life was really changed when he personally
were familiar and involved with two boys. One from North Tulsa,
(04:38):
which is kind of the poor area of our city.
It is a more minority based African American largely more
crime there, less healthcare, just much more difficult than one
from South Tulsa. The South Tulsa is the area of
(05:01):
our city. And these boys mirrored that. The North Tulsa
boy his father had been shot in a gang shooting,
and the one from South Tulsa his father was a
CEO who was never home. So both boys were fatherless,
but both boys had potential, you know. They Basically the
(05:25):
problem is both boys were killed and their lives remind
us that it doesn't matter where we grow up. If
we don't have hope, if we don't have Jesus, we're
not going to make it. And so basically what he
(05:45):
began talking about was the difference between being all in
for the Lord, being devoted, or being in for the
Lord and being committed. Commitment is external, it's about showing up.
Devotion is internal, it's about pouring out. You can be
committed to something and not be devoted. You can go
(06:07):
to church every Sunday, read your Bible every Monday, tithe faithfully,
and still not be devoted to Jesus because devotion. Devotion
isn't about what's in our schedule. It's about what's in
our heart. Now, in baseball, basketball, or sales, a ninety
(06:28):
nine percent success rate would be phenomenal, right, I mean,
you would be in every hall of fame known to mankind.
But in marriage, try telling your spouse, honey, I'm going
to be ninety nine percent faithful to you, and I
am certain that you will be one hundred percent single.
(06:50):
That's how God feels when we give him almost everything
we want him to bless our business, protect our kids,
and guide our dreams, but we keep one percent away
from him. We keep control of one percent of our life.
Jesus is not looking for part time believers. He is
(07:10):
looking for a fully devoted bride, not a dating relationship.
Let me prove this to you. Matthew six point twenty
four says no one can serve two masters. You will
hate one and love the other. You can't be committed
to God and devoted to the world. Devotion means exclusive rights.
Everything revolves around him. John fifteen four and five. Abide
(07:34):
in Me and you will bear much fruit. Abiding is
what devotion looks like. When we are devoted to Him,
his presence flows into every part of our life. Commitment
is the first step. Devotion is the destination. You must
be committed before you can be devoted, no doubt. Commitment
says all show up. Devotion says all stay until it's finished.
(07:59):
Commitment gets you to church. Devotion makes you the church.
Commitment reads the Bible. Devotion lives the Bible. Commitment says
Jesus is my Savior. Devotion says Jesus is my Lord.
Something happened in Acts two that forever defined the early Church,
(08:19):
and this is Acts two forty two. It says they
devoted themselves to the apostles, teaching and to fellowship, to
the breaking of bread, and to prayer. Notice that it
doesn't say they committed themselves. It says they devoted themselves.
After Pentecost, everything changed. They weren't following a religion anymore.
They were following a person. They weren't committed to a
(08:42):
religious schedule. They were devoted to the Holy Spirit's leading.
So what does devotion look like today? Devotion looks like
turning down a business deal that is profitable but compromises
your integrity. Devotion is praying for you your enemies instead
of posting about them, serving in your home before serving
(09:04):
in public, loving your spouse and children sacrificially before loving success.
Romans twelve ten says, be devoted to one another in love,
honor one another above yourselves. Devotion re orders your priorities.
It puts home first and then business. It puts God first,
and then family, and it puts you last. The question
(09:26):
is where is the fruit? If we're truly devoted to Christ,
our lives should exude Christ in every area, not just
in worship, but in work, not just in devotionals, but
in decisions. Ask yourself, is my life bearing fruit? Are
people seeing Jesus? And how I handle pressure? When I
walk into a room? Do I bring peace or more drama?
(09:49):
Because fruit is the evidence of devotion. Colossians four to
two says devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful
one Timothy four fifteen says be diligent in these matters,
give yourself wholly to them. Titus three fourteen says our
people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good.
(10:10):
Devotion leads to diligence. Diligence leads to fruit, and fruit
leads to legacy and favor. There is a warning, however, here,
because the opposite of devotion is not laziness, it is pride.
Proverb of sixteen eighteen says pride goes before destruction and
(10:30):
a haughty spirit before a fall. It doesn't say it
says pride goes before. It doesn't say pride goes before
the fall. It says pride goes before destruction. That means
there's no recovery. Pride says I've got this. Devotion says God,
I need you. When pride rules your life, destruction follows.
(10:55):
When devotion rules your life, blessings chase you down. Frank
talked about when he saw his mom praying when he
was a kid, really praying, not a quick bedtime prayer,
but the kind that changes the atmosphere. At the time,
he didn't understand it, but he realizes now that that
(11:18):
was devotion. Commitment gets you to your knees. Devotion keeps
you there until Heaven moves. So if we knew we
were being taken today at midnight, how would you live today?
Would you give God ninety nine percent or one hundred percent.
Would we settle for being committed Christians or become devoted disciples.
(11:42):
God is not asking us for perfection, but he is
asking us for devotion. He wants your heart, your priorities,
your time, your business, and your future. So let's not
just commit to Christ. Let's be devoted to Him because
that's where the fruit is, that's where the joy is,
that's where the power of the Holy Spirit transforms ordinary
(12:04):
lives into eternal legacies. And in closing, let me just
share this with you. Matthew twenty two thirty seven says,
love the Lord your God with all your heart, all
your soul, and all your mind. Have you ever wondered
why excuse me? God called David a man after his
(12:25):
own heart. If you study the scriptures, what you will
find is that he says, David will do whatever I
ask of him. That is how he measures a man
after my own heart. Let's live that way today. Let's
don't be scared. Let's don't live our life lukewarm. Let's
(12:47):
don't be in the middle on the fence. Let's fully
live for him. Let's be bold, Let's make an impact.
Let's live as if we were being taken away for
from this earth at midnight tonight. Please pray with me
as we close. Father, thank you for calling us not
(13:08):
just a commitment, but to devotion. Please teach us to abide,
to prioritize, and to love you with everything that we are.
Help us to bear fruit that glorifies you and our homes,
our business, and our daily lives. Father, help us to
live as if we just have a short time here
(13:29):
because we do. It may not be tonight, it may
not be midnight, but it's not going to be long,
and we will be with you, and all of a
sudden you will ask us were you devoted or were
you just committed? Father, we love you. Help to transform
our lives today in Jesus' name A man and I
(13:51):
want to thank you all so much for joining this
edition of the ninety four X Kingdom Driven CEO Contentment.
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