Be-Cast Episode 26: BE COMMITTED (Part 2)

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A NOTE FROM SARA:

Last week we took a look at some stats that show the temperature of our Christian culture and its level of commitment as well as the definition and meaning of the word committed. The Urban Dictionary is by far my favorite!

Commitment is what transforms the promise into reality.
It is the words that speak boldly of your intentions.
And the actions which speak louder than the words.
It is making the time when there is none.
Coming through time after time after time, year after year after year.
Commitment is the stuff Character is made of;
The power to change the face of things.
It is the daily triumph of integrity over skepticism.

Let’s look at some Bible verses today and some more practical application.

THIS WEEK’S VERSES:

To roll away or heap our troubles, ways, onto the Lord:

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and thy thoughts shall be established. (Proverbs 16:3)

In obedience to His calling:

And may your hearts be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time. (1 Kings 8:61)

Key Nuggets:

• “We can be committed to a set of Christian values or to a lifestyle of discipleship without being committed to God Himself. But Paul said, offer yourself to God, and in doing that commit yourselves to the pursuit of holiness in order to please Him.” (Jerry Bridges, The Discipline of Grace)

• “Let us not forget that the momentum of our commitment as Christians in the world is not a philanthropic idea, not a vague humanism, but a gift from God, that is, the gift of being sons and daughters that we have received in Baptism. This gift is, at the same time, a task. God’s children do not hide; rather they bring their joy as children of God to the world.” (The Pope)

• But the greatest incentive to complete commitment to Jesus Christ is in response to his love, shown ultimately in his death for us. “Love so amazing, so divine demands my soul, my life, my all!”

• “By abandoning commitment, our narcissistic culture has lost the one thing it desperately seeks: happiness. Without commitment, our individual lives will be barren and sterile. Without commitment, our lives will lack meaning and purpose. After all, if nothing is worth dying for (the anthem of the ’60s anti-war protesters), then nothing is worth living for. But with commitment comes the flourishing of society—of calling, of marriage, of the church—and of our hearts. It’s the paradox Jesus so often shared when he bid us to come and die that we might truly live.” (Chuck Colson)

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

1. Choose something that you are struggling with…something that you continue to hold on to and need to control. Then roll it over or heap it onto God. Verbalize it, write it down, ask someone to hold you accountable.

2. Take a look a your life and ask yourself if you are the vision of a committed Christian or not. Questions to ask yourself would be: when you give your word do you keep it? Would people around you know that you are different in a good way? Are you hot, cold, or lukewarm? Maybe find a friend, family member, spouse and ask them to be honest about if they see you as all in or wading.

READY MADE TWEETS:

When we are overcommitted, we are in no way Being Still.

Commitment is what transforms the promise into reality.

Commitment is the stuff Character is made of.

It’s no wonder churches are full of people but empty of servants.

It’s no wonder marriages are full of characters but empty of character.

We’re over-committed in things that don’t matter & under-committed in things that do.

DOWNLOADS:

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Do you struggle with commitment? Do you sometimes feel a mile wide and an inch deep? Leave us a comment below and let us know how God is speaking to you about commitment!