Proverbs 16:3

 

    Commitment is a vital and necessary component of salvation. The Bible tells us to "Commit thy way unto the Lord" (Psalms 37:5);  "Commit thy works unto the Lord" (Proverbs 16:3), and, "Commit the keeping of your soul unto God as a faithful Creator" (1Peter 4:19). God has so laid-out the "Way to eternal life," a way that even Jesus calls *narrow* (Matthew 7:14), that without commitment, no one will be able to find it. 

    Genuine, soul-saving Christianity is impossible without commitment. Jesus says, "Deny yourself and take up your cross daily…" (Luke 9:23) - -  that takes commitment because you are not going to deny yourself of anything unless you have committed yourself to Someone whom you truly believe is greater than yourself.

            Commitment takes work. There is no magical formula or mathematical equation to plug-in, and no "hocus-pocus" involved in strengthening your commitment to Jesus Christ. If you want to strengthen your business, you must work at it;  if you want to strengthen your marriage, you must work at it;  if you want to strengthen a muscle, you must work at it; and, if you want to strengthen your commitment to Jesus Christ, you must work at it.

            It's been my experience that many, if not most ALREADY know the things in their personal life that would strengthen their commitment, but sadly, they can't get motivated to do them. Furthermore, they ALREADY know the things in their life that weakens their commitment, but can't get motivated to forsake them - - so basically, the main problem is a "Motivation Gap."

            James addresses this problem when talking about those who are just "hearers of the word but not doers of the word" (James 1:22). This is not a new problem. God warned Ezekiel about the people who loved to hear him preach, and even bragged to their friends about his sermons, but they never obeyed. As a result, God's anger was aroused (Ezekiel 33:30-32).

            It is my conviction that God has so laid-out the "Way to eternal life" (a way that even Jesus calls *narrow* - Matthew 7:14), that without commitment, no one will be able to find it. Genuine soul-saving Christianity is impossible without commitment. Listen to this: "Deny your self and take up your cross DAILY…" (Luke 9:23) - - that takes commitment, because you will not deny yourself of anything unless you have committed yourself to Someone greater than yourself.

            A strong commitment begins in the heart: "Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23). Therefore, the first thing to do to strengthen your commitment is to make a firm determination in your heart to "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (cf. Ephesians 6:10).

 

--Toby Miller