03/03/2025
***Since our livestream was down at the time of service, here’s a devotion from our sermon this week.
Making a commitment means a lot…it may not seem so in today’s culture. But when you make a commitment, there’s an expectation that it will be met. If I tell someone I’ll be there to help with a project on Saturday at 2 o clock, they would expect to see me Saturday at 2 o clock. Now, if I didn’t show up, their trust that I will be there in the future, falls short.
The commitment level of our culture is truly at an all time low, with society as a whole being selfish and prideful. Customer service, across nearly every job field, lacks the commitment it once had. Employees lack commitment to the employer. Families and marriages lack commitment to each other in multiple aspects. And the culture lacks a commitment to God. You could argue that all this lack of commitment is due to the world willingly becoming prideful sloths with the progression of time. Void of a deep desire to please God with no fear or reverence for His authority.
The question was posed to Jesus, “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said unto him, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” -Matthew 22:37
As Christians, that is the commitment we’ve made. That we will love the Lord thy God will all our hearts, all our souls, and all our minds. A commitment that is made FOR A LIFETIME. Not just for a couple months, not just until the kids are grown, not just while we’re in one of life’s vallies.
Here at Celebration Baptist Church, we’ve been eagerly discussing doctrine, practices, life with Christ and plans for our future. Our members are all in and looking forward to seeing how God leads and works in our lives.
And when we make this commitment to God, the devil is aware and he wants nothing more than to stop us before we begin. And if he can’t, he won’t stop trying because he hates anything that would uphold and show the image of God. So we must put on the armor of God to withstand the fiery darts of the devil. Opposition is a driving force for exhaustion. And in the times we get weary in faith and in ministry works of life, he preys on our mental state, feeding us lies full of failure and defeat.
Things like “you can’t do this.” “you’re going to let them down” “Youre not good enough” “This is too much, too heavy, and you can’t keep this up.”
We can combat these moments of spiritual warfare with these verses…
John 15: 5- I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing (This verse can encourage us to realize that all our strength and all the increase comes from God.)
Matthew 11:28-29- Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Couple these two verses together and you see the instruction, and the blessing. The blessing of going through this life WITH Christ. The commitment that Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us. That He upholds every day of our lives, building the relationship with Him as we honor our commitment to never forget Him. Let Him lead, guide, and direct. God knows that in this life, our human bodies and souls can get exhausted. Rest and work in Him.
There are times, we can overextend ourselves trying to show the love of Christ and be there for everybody all the time. Sometimes, this is not possible. And we can spread ourselves too thin, ultimately resulting in a failure somewhere. Something gets forgotten, something doesn’t get done, something didn’t turn out right…..and here comes the devil. Circling back around to say “See? Told ya” “You can’t” “You’re not good enough or strong enough”
Shake it off. Lift your head. Abide in the scriptures. Realize that at the end of the day, we are in fact, human. When making commitments in this life ponder on these thoughts.
-Make the commitment only if you intend to keep it.
-You can say no if there’s too much happening in your life at the moment.
-Make it right with your brother or sister for any broken agreement you had, the first chance you get.
-Understand that all commitments require some sort of sacrifice….
