“But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed…” (Romans 6:17, ESV)
They say that New Year’s Resolutions on average will last only two weeks. Very few, a minute percentage, are ever kept for the entire year. It’s not that people don’t want to succeed with their resolutions. It’s not that they don’t have important goals. When it comes down to it, most people are not prepared to make a total commitment to that resolution. They are not fully behind whatever changes are required to keep that resolution. People like to talk about making things better, making resolutions, coming up with plans to overcome problems… they just don’t often follow through with a commitment that endures. The same thing can be said about many Christians.
Christians, for the most part, know what God in Christ desires of them. Most have read the Bible, worshiped, learned the basics of the faith. The problem is that all Christians do not endeavor to be totally committed to Jesus Christ under whatever circumstances they find themselves. When a problem in a local church arises, some Christians will lose the desire to keep worshiping. When a favorite pastor retires, some Christians will drift away, unable to change allegiances. When being a Christian costs a person some amount of pain or discomfort or financial obligation, some will give up the cause. Being a true Christian requires you be totally committed to follow God wherever HE takes you.
William Booth started the Salvation Army. The goal of the Salvation Army was to help the poor who are in difficult circumstances. On one occasion, Booth was known to write: “I will tell you the secret: God has had all that there was of me. There have been men with greater brains than I, even with greater opportunities, but from the day I got the poor of London on my heart and caught a vision of what Jesus Christ could do with me and them, on that day I made up my mind that God should have all of William Booth there was. And if there is anything of power in the Salvation Army, it is because God has had all the adoration of my heart, all the power of my will, and all the influence of my life.”
Booth didn’t launch and nurture the Salvation Army with lots of money and wealthy backers. He didn’t do it because it was easy. He didn’t work among the needy to be lauded by history. Booth began his work with the Salvation Army to reach the poor in the name of Jesus Christ. In this mission, he was totally committed. He was not going to back down or let the ministry fail. Why? God didn’t have part of his heart, God had “all the adoration” of Booth’s heart, “all the power” of Booth’s will, and “all the influence” of his life. Booth gave his ALL. He was "all in"; totally committed to the endeavor.
There may come a time when God will require you to be “all in”. You will have to choose to follow with total commitment to God’s work or step aside while God finds another who is “all in”. In the book of Revelation, God was disgusted with the Laodicean church. They were “lukewarm” in their faith (Revelation 3:16). They were not totally committed to the Lord. Though God had blessed these Christians with a good life and enough money to prosper, they pulled back when God had a need (Revelation 3:17). How would you respond to a new expectation from God? What riches would you not give up in order to follow God faithfully?
At a gospel rally in North Carolina, the evangelist gave a powerful sermon. Thereafter, he asked all who desired to a stronger commitment to Jesus to walk up the center aisle to the altar. The first man to leave his seat walked straight up to the altar and knelt. The pastor prayed that he might be forgiven of all sin and receive direction from the Holy Spirit. Following the man’s lead, more and more came forward. After the service, that first man who went to the altar approached his best friend and said, “Whew! I was worried.”
“About what?” said his best friend.
“I was so afraid God was going to tell me I had to go into the mission field. I’m so relieved that never came up! I’m so thrilled that I don’t have to leave everything behind!”
Dare I say this man was not willing to be “all in” for Jesus? What do you think? Do you see total commitment in this man’s words or a desire to live a comfortable faith life? Can a person believe wholeheartedly in Jesus without an absolute commitment to the Lord? Will you only believe in God if HE requires what you want to give instead of what HE needs?
The Apostle Paul wrote the scripture for today to the fledgling Roman church. He gave thanks to God that the Roman Christians had set aside their sinful ways to hold on to Jesus. They were not only “obedient from the heart” but “committed” to the teaching of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:17). Being obedient and being committed are two different ideals, but they often function together. An obedient Christian is always committed to Jesus’ teaching. A committed Christian will be obedient to the will of God. Obedience and commitment to God always occur together in the true Christian. You can’t have obedience to Christ without a total commitment to our Savior. You can’t be totally committed to Jesus unless you are willing to obey Christ above all others.
If I were to ask five people who know you the best today, would they say you are totally committed to Jesus Christ? Would they see you as an obedient child of God? If not, you have work to do. Which area of your faith needs help, your obedience to Jesus or your total commitment to the mission of Christ? Paul saw both obedience and the commitment in the Roman Church as proof of their salvation. Wouldn’t God want to see the same in you?
Christians, for the most part, know what God in Christ desires of them. Most have read the Bible, worshiped, learned the basics of the faith. The problem is that all Christians do not endeavor to be totally committed to Jesus Christ under whatever circumstances they find themselves. When a problem in a local church arises, some Christians will lose the desire to keep worshiping. When a favorite pastor retires, some Christians will drift away, unable to change allegiances. When being a Christian costs a person some amount of pain or discomfort or financial obligation, some will give up the cause. Being a true Christian requires you be totally committed to follow God wherever HE takes you.
William Booth started the Salvation Army. The goal of the Salvation Army was to help the poor who are in difficult circumstances. On one occasion, Booth was known to write: “I will tell you the secret: God has had all that there was of me. There have been men with greater brains than I, even with greater opportunities, but from the day I got the poor of London on my heart and caught a vision of what Jesus Christ could do with me and them, on that day I made up my mind that God should have all of William Booth there was. And if there is anything of power in the Salvation Army, it is because God has had all the adoration of my heart, all the power of my will, and all the influence of my life.”
Booth didn’t launch and nurture the Salvation Army with lots of money and wealthy backers. He didn’t do it because it was easy. He didn’t work among the needy to be lauded by history. Booth began his work with the Salvation Army to reach the poor in the name of Jesus Christ. In this mission, he was totally committed. He was not going to back down or let the ministry fail. Why? God didn’t have part of his heart, God had “all the adoration” of Booth’s heart, “all the power” of Booth’s will, and “all the influence” of his life. Booth gave his ALL. He was "all in"; totally committed to the endeavor.
There may come a time when God will require you to be “all in”. You will have to choose to follow with total commitment to God’s work or step aside while God finds another who is “all in”. In the book of Revelation, God was disgusted with the Laodicean church. They were “lukewarm” in their faith (Revelation 3:16). They were not totally committed to the Lord. Though God had blessed these Christians with a good life and enough money to prosper, they pulled back when God had a need (Revelation 3:17). How would you respond to a new expectation from God? What riches would you not give up in order to follow God faithfully?
At a gospel rally in North Carolina, the evangelist gave a powerful sermon. Thereafter, he asked all who desired to a stronger commitment to Jesus to walk up the center aisle to the altar. The first man to leave his seat walked straight up to the altar and knelt. The pastor prayed that he might be forgiven of all sin and receive direction from the Holy Spirit. Following the man’s lead, more and more came forward. After the service, that first man who went to the altar approached his best friend and said, “Whew! I was worried.”
“About what?” said his best friend.
“I was so afraid God was going to tell me I had to go into the mission field. I’m so relieved that never came up! I’m so thrilled that I don’t have to leave everything behind!”
Dare I say this man was not willing to be “all in” for Jesus? What do you think? Do you see total commitment in this man’s words or a desire to live a comfortable faith life? Can a person believe wholeheartedly in Jesus without an absolute commitment to the Lord? Will you only believe in God if HE requires what you want to give instead of what HE needs?
The Apostle Paul wrote the scripture for today to the fledgling Roman church. He gave thanks to God that the Roman Christians had set aside their sinful ways to hold on to Jesus. They were not only “obedient from the heart” but “committed” to the teaching of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:17). Being obedient and being committed are two different ideals, but they often function together. An obedient Christian is always committed to Jesus’ teaching. A committed Christian will be obedient to the will of God. Obedience and commitment to God always occur together in the true Christian. You can’t have obedience to Christ without a total commitment to our Savior. You can’t be totally committed to Jesus unless you are willing to obey Christ above all others.
If I were to ask five people who know you the best today, would they say you are totally committed to Jesus Christ? Would they see you as an obedient child of God? If not, you have work to do. Which area of your faith needs help, your obedience to Jesus or your total commitment to the mission of Christ? Paul saw both obedience and the commitment in the Roman Church as proof of their salvation. Wouldn’t God want to see the same in you?