Radical Commitment (1)

Feb 15, 2019

‘I have been crucified with Christ.’Galatians 2:20 NIV

We live in a time of commitment-phobia. We want to get as much as we can while giving back as little as possible. We want to be there for others in good times but not bad ones. And our lack of commitment is reflected in the statistics. We spend more kina on phone credit than we put in the offering plate. Involvement in church and participation in compassionate causes are both down. We’re becoming a people who fear putting ourselves forward to serve and we shy away from responsibility and obligation. To escape the awkwardness and embarrassment of saying no, we avoid our obligations and responsibilities by simply not turning up when we’re needed. And we can spend hours on Facebook but get bored after 5 minutes reading our Bible. We want our sermons simple, entertaining, and above all, short! Radical commitment is rare—but it’s what God wants from us! The Bible says, ‘It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfil it.’ (Ecclesiastes 5:5 NIV)

How about commitment to marriage? God doesn’t see it as a 50/50 arrangement, but one where both sides give 100 %. It’s a sacred covenant made before God between a man and woman, ‘for better or worse; for richer or poorer; in sickness and in health; until parted by death.’ And it works best when both partners have learned to say with Paul, ‘I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.’

That’s radical commitment, and it’s the way to a great marriage.

SoulFood: Gen 37–39, Luke 10:1–12, Ps 5, Pro 5:1–2
The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

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