The Call to Commitment
The Call to Commitment
Ps Benny Ho
What's between potential and performance? Discipline. And how do we put that discipline into our life unless we make first 100% commitment to God?
2 Chronicles 31:20-21: King Hezekiah
"20 This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God. 21 In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered."
King Hezekiah was one of only 2 kings of Israel who stayed faithful to God all of his life, who was with no recorded downfall in the bible. He was the king who changed the spiritual climate of his nation (Read 2 Chronicles 29-31). All good things that he did was over a stretch of 29 years, not just a shortwhile. What was his secret? "Wholeheartedly" (=he put in 100%, he was committed).
What am I committed to? Is there anything that means everything to me?
Am I committed or am I halfhearted? (In my family, work, walk with God?)
The problem with many failings of relationship nowadays is that many couples only made a decision but did not make a commitment. The same is true in the church. The reason why many times churches are not making more impact in the society is because many church members had made a decision about Christ, but we may not have made a commitment to Christ. We want a Savior, but He wants to be our Master and Lord. He wants a 100%. And when you're committed, get off the ground. Until we're totally committed, there's always hesitancy, looking back. But once we're committed, we find a release of potent power that comes from within.
The greatest day of our lives is when our commitment is at its highest. There may be struggles. But the struggles will ultimately give way to success if we are committed. In fact, commitment is the only way to test the whole thing.
COMMITMENT:
1. is based on CHOICE, not CIRCUMSTANCES
King Hezekiah came to the throne of Judah when the nation was in a big mess, under his father, King Ahaz. Every city was in idolatry. It would have been easier for Hezekiah to carry out the business as usual and go with the flow. But he chose to commit himself to do what is right in the sight of God. It was the choice that made him commit, NOT circumstances.
Successful people don't make commitment because the circumstances are right. In fact, many times commitment is sealed when we choose to do right despite of adverse circumstances. Most commitment are born in dark hours, in the valleys of life. Whatever doesn't break us, it bonds us.
2. is measured not by big things, but by small things. It starts with small things.
29:3 First thing King Hezekiah did was opened the door of the temple and repair the door.
Commit yourself to God by first getting the small things right! Go back to your bible and read. Get back to your knee and pray. Start with being kind to a person sitting next to you.
Commitment begins with small things.
3. is about "single-mindedness" and NOT "half-heartedness"
29:10 "I want to make a covenant with my God"
It's not half-heartedness in so many things. It is being single-minded in just a few things.
The man who has two watches is never sure of the time.
Too many focus will paralyze you.
4. is proven not by intention, but by ACTION
Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do.
31:20 "This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God."
It was what Hezekiah did, not thought about, not intended...
Throughout chapt 29-31, King Hezekiah acted. When he did, the leaders followed, then the people followed.
The fruit of the passion is always in the pursuit.
Don't quit. Be patient. Stay committed... and do it! The read sea will part for you.
Applications
1. Commit to your personal growth. Make positive steps to grow spiritually. No stagnate. Once you stagnate, you slide back.
2. Commit to your local church. A local church, with all its imperfection, is still the apple of God's eyes, the channel through which God's agenda will be carried out. We gain strength from it to go out and touch the world for Jesus, with everything that we've drawn from it. Forsake the assembling, you forfeit the power of the corporate identity.
--- You don't find your identity by looking inside, but by making commitment. --- Who you are comes from who / what you're committed to. Find yourself by being committed to the things that God has put into your life.
3. Commit to your ministry.
4. Commit to personal purity.
Reflection
I think I've been having too much on decisions, intentions, desirings, hoping, promising, etc... I thought it's a commitment... but apparently, without action, they have brought me nowhere. Start doing, wholeheartedly, single-mindedly, relying on God's strength...
Lord... You are my strength...
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
~ Isaiah 40:29 ~
Ps Benny Ho
What's between potential and performance? Discipline. And how do we put that discipline into our life unless we make first 100% commitment to God?
2 Chronicles 31:20-21: King Hezekiah
"20 This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God. 21 In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered."
King Hezekiah was one of only 2 kings of Israel who stayed faithful to God all of his life, who was with no recorded downfall in the bible. He was the king who changed the spiritual climate of his nation (Read 2 Chronicles 29-31). All good things that he did was over a stretch of 29 years, not just a shortwhile. What was his secret? "Wholeheartedly" (=he put in 100%, he was committed).
What am I committed to? Is there anything that means everything to me?
Am I committed or am I halfhearted? (In my family, work, walk with God?)
The problem with many failings of relationship nowadays is that many couples only made a decision but did not make a commitment. The same is true in the church. The reason why many times churches are not making more impact in the society is because many church members had made a decision about Christ, but we may not have made a commitment to Christ. We want a Savior, but He wants to be our Master and Lord. He wants a 100%. And when you're committed, get off the ground. Until we're totally committed, there's always hesitancy, looking back. But once we're committed, we find a release of potent power that comes from within.
The greatest day of our lives is when our commitment is at its highest. There may be struggles. But the struggles will ultimately give way to success if we are committed. In fact, commitment is the only way to test the whole thing.
COMMITMENT:
1. is based on CHOICE, not CIRCUMSTANCES
King Hezekiah came to the throne of Judah when the nation was in a big mess, under his father, King Ahaz. Every city was in idolatry. It would have been easier for Hezekiah to carry out the business as usual and go with the flow. But he chose to commit himself to do what is right in the sight of God. It was the choice that made him commit, NOT circumstances.
Successful people don't make commitment because the circumstances are right. In fact, many times commitment is sealed when we choose to do right despite of adverse circumstances. Most commitment are born in dark hours, in the valleys of life. Whatever doesn't break us, it bonds us.
2. is measured not by big things, but by small things. It starts with small things.
29:3 First thing King Hezekiah did was opened the door of the temple and repair the door.
Commit yourself to God by first getting the small things right! Go back to your bible and read. Get back to your knee and pray. Start with being kind to a person sitting next to you.
Commitment begins with small things.
3. is about "single-mindedness" and NOT "half-heartedness"
29:10 "I want to make a covenant with my God"
It's not half-heartedness in so many things. It is being single-minded in just a few things.
The man who has two watches is never sure of the time.
Too many focus will paralyze you.
4. is proven not by intention, but by ACTION
Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do.
31:20 "This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God."
It was what Hezekiah did, not thought about, not intended...
Throughout chapt 29-31, King Hezekiah acted. When he did, the leaders followed, then the people followed.
The fruit of the passion is always in the pursuit.
Don't quit. Be patient. Stay committed... and do it! The read sea will part for you.
Applications
1. Commit to your personal growth. Make positive steps to grow spiritually. No stagnate. Once you stagnate, you slide back.
2. Commit to your local church. A local church, with all its imperfection, is still the apple of God's eyes, the channel through which God's agenda will be carried out. We gain strength from it to go out and touch the world for Jesus, with everything that we've drawn from it. Forsake the assembling, you forfeit the power of the corporate identity.
--- You don't find your identity by looking inside, but by making commitment. --- Who you are comes from who / what you're committed to. Find yourself by being committed to the things that God has put into your life.
3. Commit to your ministry.
4. Commit to personal purity.
Reflection
I think I've been having too much on decisions, intentions, desirings, hoping, promising, etc... I thought it's a commitment... but apparently, without action, they have brought me nowhere. Start doing, wholeheartedly, single-mindedly, relying on God's strength...
Lord... You are my strength...
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
~ Isaiah 40:29 ~