2. loyalty: devotion or dedication, e.g. to a cause, person, or relationship
I made a commitment on Wednesday night. It was a commitment to God. While kneeling at the altar and discussing with the Lord the things He had stirred up within my heart during the preaching, I made a commitment to Him. He told me if I was serious about this commitment, I ought to mark it. Write it down so it can be a reminder.
Isn't that what we do with most commitments these days? If you decide to go to college and put forth the time and effort and money, the end result of that commitment is reflected and remembered with a diploma? When two people decide to get married and commit themselves to one another, don't they also sign a marriage certificate? When you purchase a cell phone, a car, or a house, you sign a contract, which documents your commitment, right?
Yeah, God gave me some pretty convincing reasons on why I should document this commitment. He had good foresight (as always) too, because today, I needed a reminder of not just the commitment I made with Him the night before, but also a reminder of how I felt when I made that commitment.
I have had trouble sleeping lately (and by lately I mean for the past few months...) but last night was glorious! I slept like a log. All night. I don't remember when or if my alarm even went off this morning. If it did, I managed to turn it off...and continued to sleep. Until 7:27 am. (I usually leave for work at 7:30.) So I woke up and went into panic/frenzy mode all morning - got to work (just in the nick of time). Whew. Spent all day answering questions and taking on everybody else's problems. The day seemed to drag by slower and slower.
The last thing I wanted to do was rush home, change clothes and go street preaching.
But I made a commitment. A commitment to stand in the gap. A commitment to tell them. A commitment to not be ashamed...to not be afraid. A commitment to really, fully , whole-heartedly do what I can to fulfill my responsibility of the great commission.
But I had a headache. Actually, my whole head was throbbing.
But I made a commitment.
Could I really not hold up my commitment for 24 hours?
Shameful.
That's why I am glad I wrote down my commitment. I didn't have a choice. Headache or no headache. Comfortable or not. No matter if I was tired or energized, worn out and drained or pumped and ready to go...I made a commitment.
I opened this post with the definition of commitment and I want to be sure to address my purpose for doing so. Many these days do not hold up their commitments (take divorce rates for one example). People back out of their commitments all the time.
People including Christians. I am sure I am not the only one who has ever gone forward during an invitation and have knelt down and prayed with God and committed something to Him only to let some time pass and before you know it, that commitment is broken.
My commitment to go street preaching tonight fit into the first definition of responsibility. I made a commitment to those in charge of it that I was going to be there (obligation) and it took my time and energy to go. I am glad I did. It was worth every moment of my time.
But the main reason I went tonight, in spite of the throbbing headache and empty stomach that growled, was definition #2: loyalty: devotion or dedication, e.g. to a cause, person, or relationship
I desire to be loyal....to Him. to be devoted....to Him. to be dedicated.....to Him.
His cause becomes my cause. He is the one person I did it for. We often do things to be an example to others, which is great and needful, but first and foremost HE needs to be the person we do anything and everything for. Thirdly, I have a relationship with Him and by serving Him tonight by standing on a street corner holding a sign with His words on it, well, that was time I got to spend with Him. It was time that offered an opportunity for growth in our relationship. That opportunity would have been lost had I decided to not go and run my errands instead.
His cause is worthy. He is worthy. My relationship with Him is worthy.
I made a commitment on Wednesday night. It was a commitment to God. While kneeling at the altar and discussing with the Lord the things He had stirred up within my heart during the preaching, I made a commitment to Him. He told me if I was serious about this commitment, I ought to mark it. Write it down so it can be a reminder.
Isn't that what we do with most commitments these days? If you decide to go to college and put forth the time and effort and money, the end result of that commitment is reflected and remembered with a diploma? When two people decide to get married and commit themselves to one another, don't they also sign a marriage certificate? When you purchase a cell phone, a car, or a house, you sign a contract, which documents your commitment, right?
Yeah, God gave me some pretty convincing reasons on why I should document this commitment. He had good foresight (as always) too, because today, I needed a reminder of not just the commitment I made with Him the night before, but also a reminder of how I felt when I made that commitment.
I have had trouble sleeping lately (and by lately I mean for the past few months...) but last night was glorious! I slept like a log. All night. I don't remember when or if my alarm even went off this morning. If it did, I managed to turn it off...and continued to sleep. Until 7:27 am. (I usually leave for work at 7:30.) So I woke up and went into panic/frenzy mode all morning - got to work (just in the nick of time). Whew. Spent all day answering questions and taking on everybody else's problems. The day seemed to drag by slower and slower.
The last thing I wanted to do was rush home, change clothes and go street preaching.
But I made a commitment. A commitment to stand in the gap. A commitment to tell them. A commitment to not be ashamed...to not be afraid. A commitment to really, fully , whole-heartedly do what I can to fulfill my responsibility of the great commission.
But I had a headache. Actually, my whole head was throbbing.
But I made a commitment.
Could I really not hold up my commitment for 24 hours?
Shameful.
That's why I am glad I wrote down my commitment. I didn't have a choice. Headache or no headache. Comfortable or not. No matter if I was tired or energized, worn out and drained or pumped and ready to go...I made a commitment.
I opened this post with the definition of commitment and I want to be sure to address my purpose for doing so. Many these days do not hold up their commitments (take divorce rates for one example). People back out of their commitments all the time.
People including Christians. I am sure I am not the only one who has ever gone forward during an invitation and have knelt down and prayed with God and committed something to Him only to let some time pass and before you know it, that commitment is broken.
My commitment to go street preaching tonight fit into the first definition of responsibility. I made a commitment to those in charge of it that I was going to be there (obligation) and it took my time and energy to go. I am glad I did. It was worth every moment of my time.
But the main reason I went tonight, in spite of the throbbing headache and empty stomach that growled, was definition #2: loyalty: devotion or dedication, e.g. to a cause, person, or relationship
I desire to be loyal....to Him. to be devoted....to Him. to be dedicated.....to Him.
His cause becomes my cause. He is the one person I did it for. We often do things to be an example to others, which is great and needful, but first and foremost HE needs to be the person we do anything and everything for. Thirdly, I have a relationship with Him and by serving Him tonight by standing on a street corner holding a sign with His words on it, well, that was time I got to spend with Him. It was time that offered an opportunity for growth in our relationship. That opportunity would have been lost had I decided to not go and run my errands instead.
His cause is worthy. He is worthy. My relationship with Him is worthy.
"Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." Psalm 37:5I want to be committed.
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