Commitment

Serving the Lord Jesus Christ, and Him using us to build His Kingdom is the greatest mission we can be committed to. In all of life, there is nothing better than committing to a cause that eternally valuable and eternally rewarding.

Over the next three blogs, I am reposting Pastor Paul Chappell’s article “Commitment to Finish Well.” My prayer is that you will prayerfully consider what is presented and make the adjustments to your life, making all seven commitments a priority.

“…2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” You get the picture of a boxing match with a fighter who stayed in the ring until the end of the fight.

I want to be that fighter. But it won’t happen by accident.

I believe many times we’re defeated simply because we’re naïve. We write out our goals or visualize coming progress, but we forget that we are in a real spiritual battle. This is a fight, not an exercise.

There are two realities about this war of which we must be aware if we are to finish well.

Reality 1: Pride swells in us, so we must daily die to self. Pride causes us to believe that finishing well is automatic. It causes us to exaggerate our ability and underestimate Satan’s fiery darts.

When pride cometh, then cometh shame: But with the lowly is wisdom.—Proverbs 11:12

Reality 2: Christians more known and respected than you and me have not finished well. Victory is never won on autopilot. Solomon warned Rehoboam of moral dangers, yet Solomon himself fell. His words of warning are a sharp reminder that victory is only assured through vigilance and God’s grace.

Lest thou give thine honour unto others…—Proverbs 5:9

With these two realities in my mind, I wrote out seven commitments in my journal—commitments to guard my heart so I can finish well to the glory of God.

Commitment 1: Spend Increased Time in God’s Word

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.—2 Timothy 2:15

I don’t have a magical equation for how much time to spend with the Lord to stay out of sin, but I can make a commitment to spend more daily time with the Lord this year than I did last year.

Commitment 2: Make No Provision for the Flesh

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.—Romans 13:14

Satan is always looking for the opportunity to defeat me. I counter his blows before he lands them when I intentionally avoid places, media, people, etc. that would create a temptation for my flesh…”

Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 4:2, “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” At the core of faithfulness is commitment: we cannot be faithful if we won’t commit.

The seven commitments that Pastor Chappell will be dealing with, I pray, are a blessing and a challenge to you as your read, consider and pray through them. The challenge for each of us is to commit to doing what the Lord tells us in these seven areas.