Living Committed - Ron

Perhaps no one knows the origins of the following thought, but there is little doubt that you have heard it before. It generally runs something like this: The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed.

When reading the Bible, the inescapable conclusion is that Jesus Christ of Nazareth calls for and demands committed followers. Much like the pig gives its life for our breakfast, the call from the Savior time and again is for His followers to lay down their lives. It is impossible to follow Jesus in faith and continue to live a life based on self-interest. In John 12:25; Matthew 10:38-39; Mark 8:35; and Luke 17:33, Jesus speaks with authority, clarity, and force: You cannot follow me without learning how to die. It was true for the rich young ruler (Matthew 19, Mark 10, Luke 18) and it is true for you today. 

Following Jesus requires commitment.

And yet, for many Christians, there seems to be a fear of committed discipleship. Perhaps you know, on a deep level, that you lack the commitment to Christ to which He calls you. Maybe you are unsure how to maintain a level of commitment. For others, the issue is that you are unable to summon the drive to be committed. Perhaps there are even some doubts in your life holding you back from total commitment. 

Here are four general reasons why some remain uncommitted. Hopefully shedding light on these will help us to recognize them in our own life in order to move beyond them.

1. We pursue something better. When you refuse to commit to Christ, what you are saying is that there may be something better for your life. Is this true? Absolutely not. The Creator of the universe knows best how to give you a joyful, more abundant life (John 10:10). He has a plan for you (Jeremiah 29:11), a will for you (Romans 12:2), and a destiny for you (Romans 8:28-29).
   
   
2. We have unbiblical expectations. The call of Christ is a clear one. And yet, it is often misunderstood. The abundant life of Christ is not one of ease that is free from financial, physical, or emotional hardship. Jesus always made sure to tell of the cost associated with discipleship (Matthew 10:38; 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23; 14:27). Our expectation must come from Christ: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:38).
   
   
3. We have time to do it later. This could also be listed as: We are too busy right now. You tell yourself, “when I have more time I’ll commit to whatever He wants” — but deep down, you know that you will never have more time and there will never be a better time. No Christian would look Jesus in the face and say, “Hold on for a few years. Wait for me, and I will commit after I do some other stuff.” Yet many of them live out that thought in their actions. Your life is a vapor that only appears for a short while (James 4:14) and the return of Christ is imminent. Now is the only time you are guaranteed to have. In the words of Jesus: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul” (Mark 8:36)?
   
   
4. We have failed before. Perhaps you remain uncommitted because you tried to follow Christ with all of your heart before and failed. Be encouraged! The call from Scripture is not that you never fall, but you that you never stay down! Proverbs 24:16 says, “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.” God’s mercy is new every day (Lamentations 3:22-23) and the ebb and flow of our fellowship with Him is found in our open confession and His endless forgiveness (First John 1:9). Far from causing us to quit in despair, our failures should cause us to rejoice again and again in His mercy and forgiveness. We have this confidence because we are not under condemnation (Romans 8:1) and we have peace with and access to God (Romans 5:1-2).

Regardless of the possible reasons for it, if you find your commitment lacking, the first step is to stop deceiving yourself. Jeremiah tells us that our heart is deceitful and desperately wicked (17:9). What are you telling yourself versus what is going on at a deeper level? Did you make a decision to believe things about Christ, or did you make a commitment to follow Him? Do you find yourself constantly comparing your walk with Christ to that of your friends? The measure of our commitment must come from Scripture. It is a familiar passage, but perhaps Paul says it best in Romans 12:1: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Even today, take the time to ask yourself the questions you’ve just read. What is your level of commitment to Jesus Christ? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you, and commit to living out Romans 12:1. Meditating on Scripture allows us to enter fully into a committed relationship with Jesus Christ with boldness! The life of commitment may seem like too high of a calling for you, but it isn't! In this matter, as in all others, cast all your care upon him; for he careth for you (1 Peter 5:7).