“YOU SHOULD BE COMMITTED!”

By Semi-Retired Pastor Jeremy Stopford

A little levity leftover from Valentine’s Day…

A friend of mine asked me if I bought something for my wife for Valentine’s Day.

“Yes, I bought her a belt and a bag,” I replied.

“That was very kind of you,” Johnny added, “I hope she appreciated the thought.”

I smiled and replied, “So do I, and hopefully the vacuum cleaner will work better now.”

“YOU SHOULD BE COMMITTED!”

From the series, “Restoring the Joy”

“Commit your way to the Lord,trust also in Him,and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.”

-Psalm 37:5-6

The name “Joe Carter” may not be familiar to most of you, but it may be familiar to some – especially if you LOVE baseball trivia. Here’s your question: in the HISTORY of World Series play, how many World Series have ended a World Series with a walk-off home run? Well, most of you might remember Bill Mazeroski’s HR off the Yankees to win the 1960 World Series. And the second? Thirty three years later, 1993, Game 6, at home in Toronto vs. the Philadelphia Phillies. But what Joe Carter may not be remembered for is a classic line attributed to him. When asked what was his motivation for playing baseball, Mr. Carter quickly replied, “I am committedto excellence.”

COMMIT”. The word is used mainly in the form of “commit” or “committed” 193 TIMES in the Bible! Most of those times it is used with the intention of being “committed to SIN”!

The definition is a simple one. “COMMIT” means “to roll one’s way upon God.”

We want to look at this word from two different angles. Then we want to look at two examples. Finally we will conclude with some challenging introspective questions. Ready?

FIRST: GOD IS COMMITTED TO ME! (Really? I didn’t know that!)

Listen to Romans 3:1-2:

“What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?  Much

in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.”

God has committed to me the Word of God! Have you read Genesis lately? Ok, ok, that wasn’t too bad. How about Exodus? Ok, ok, that was fast paced. Ok, a few more: Leviticus? Numbers? Ecclesiastes? For many, those books wear one down! Yet God tells us that through the Jew came the Word of God! And we who are “modern day saints/lovers of Jesus” are the beneficiaries of that gift! So as you are struggling through one of those Old Testament classics, think “WOW! This is a gift to me!”

How about 2 Corinthians 5:19:

“…God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their

trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation…”

Am I reading this correctly? Let’s pretend that late last night I asked Jesus as my Savior. Does that mean that from now on God expects ME to be an instrument to others for them to hear and see the love of Christ through me?

Yep!

He didn’t chose angels! In fact, in 1 Peter 1:12 Peter says that the angels want to look into the fact that created beings like us can even be redeemed!

No, he chose me! He committed to you and me the gift of sharing with others – both through our words and our lives – the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus!

How about Luke 16:11:

“Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?”

God is wise. Period. The passage of Luke 16 is talking about the wonderful subject of “stewardship” – the wise care of those things which God has placed under our oversight. Are you a good steward? Are you conscious EVERY DAY of being a wise overseer of all that the Good Lord has put under your care…all that He has committed to you?

But that’s not all! SECOND, BECAUSE GOD IS COMMITTED TO ME…

I CAN COMMIT TO GOD!

Permit me a personal illustration. I had just graduated from 6th grade. I was soon heading off to summer camp in New Hampshire, for what would be my last summer as a camper. All was pretty exciting – why, even my older brother was to be my counselor! I had a wonderful summer – one of the best! It was when I returned home in August that I learned the rest of the story. During my camp physical in June, doctors discovered a persistent “hole in my heart” that they felt needed to be operated on. My parents were committed to my enjoying this summer before the surgery. AND they were committed throughout the summer to find 20 blood donors needed for my surgery. My older brother, knowing about the surgery – but without telling me – was committed to being sure I have a great summer! So on all hikes he put me at the head of the line, so that my pace – sometimes slow – would be the pace of all. And yes, I survived the surgery – that was…57 years ago!

The point is this: life teaches us a dedication that is necessary on a daily level in order to survive. How much more should we be glorifying God by our daily committing our way before Him?

The text from Psalm 37 indicates a test to show what stuff we are made of! With a trust and confidence, God will prosper our way with His presence.

Allow me to give you just a taste of the verses which talk about how I can be committed to God:

Job 5:8: “But as for me, I would seek God, and to God I would commit my

cause…”

Proverbs 16:3: Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be

established.”

2 Timothy 1:12: “ For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”

1 Peter 4:19: “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit

their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”

When you think of it, God gives us HIS example of what He is eternally committedto:

Psalm 31:5: “Into Your hand I commit my spirit;


You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.”

The Lord Jesus uttered these words at the cross. No one took His life. He gave His life for sinners like you and me!

1 Peter 2:23: “who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did

not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;”

The Lord Jesus showed us how He was committed in death.

The Lord Jesus showed us how He was committed in life!

HOW ABOUT US?

What are you committed to? Simply surviving each day?

Have you remembered the trust that Jesus taught us when we first came to Him?

Do you remember His example at the cross?

COMMIT YOUR WAY TO THE LORD!!!