This Veteran’s Day, I’ve been thinking about commitment. Wikipedia defines commitment as the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.,”the company’s commitment to quality.” Commitment involves a duty, willingly fulfilled, according to the charge entrusted.
Commitment is required in employment, military enlistment, marriage vows, and church membership. In job situations, commitments made satisfy certain tasks according to the desires of the employer. Wedding vows mean a change in social and tax-exempt status. In church, we are committed love each other, edify each other, and live in unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Because of the love of God and the high price of commitment Christ paid for us on the cross, we must be willing to count the cost, sacrifice ourselves, and submit to anything He asks.
The cost of commitment requires relationships: Luke 5:17–20 provides us with a picture of four friends who were committed to faith in Christ. These were willing servants who desired for their crippled friend to be healed. For this to be possible, they knew the paralytic man couldn’t get to Jesus on his own. They carried their friend to Jesus. They were willing to do it because of their commitment.
The cost of commitment requires risk: These four men who took their friend to Jesus, risked reputation.(They took apart the roof to lower their friend into the presence of Jesus.) They risked arrest . . . they were entering a home without permission, through the roof! They risked loss . . . what if their plan didn’t work? Yet, they were willing to risk it all because of their commitment.
The cost of commitment results in revival: Imagine the reaction of the crowd, when the paralytic man stood up and walked! (Verse 20: And seeing their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.”) A true testimony of the essence of commitment . . . the man’s friends had brought him to Jesus—he couldn’t get there by himself. The faith of the friends . . . had resulted in the healing. The outcome was evidenced in the man’s revival—both spiritually and physically. The renewal of spiritual fervor was further magnified in the lives and hearts of those in the crowd!
The roots of commitment are strengthened as we encounter trials similar to the challenge found in Luke 5. In the same way the paralytic man’s friends’ faith made him well, through the power of Christ in us, our determination to stay committed makes us stronger! When the tough times come (and we know they will!), to just be able to dig our heels in and say, “No matter what it takes, I will be the one to take my friend to Jesus.” For each of us, our personal obedience to commit to what God wants for us affects many other people. I believe we all need a renewed sense of commitment to Christ, our relationships, our marriages, and especially our church. But for each one of us, commitment means something specific and unique according to our Spiritual gifts and callings. Consider the effects of the cost of commitment in your own life, your Christian walk, your home life, and your ministries: Have you paid the price of commitment?
Let’s pray the prayer of commitment together,
I love you — Sheryl
Dear Heavenly Father, this Veteran’s Day, we want to pause to say thank you for the many who lost their lives and others who have risked their lives for our freedom. Thank you for each veteran, their families, and their support systems. We ask for your favor and blessing over them. Father, we ask for our commitment to be strengthened, to you, first, because we know that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.” In Jesus’ name, amen.
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