ARE YOU FULLY OR PARTIALLY COMMITTED TO THE LORD?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, 
but praise God that you bear that name.  
(1 Peter 4:16)

MEDITATION:
In an effort to provide what people want to hear, America has created 
a watered-down Christianity that has produced anemic, watered-down 
Christians who are unwilling to live according to God’s sound doctrines.
In his letter to Timothy, Paul warned him that this would happen.
For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. 
Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great 
number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 
(2 Timothy 4:3)

Others are not going to be interested in becoming 
a part of Christianity consisting of people with half-hearted commitments.
It is a testimony of human nature, isn’t it?
People are attracted to groups which are fully committed to a cause or purpose.

God’s principles can stand on their own merit; 
we should never spend time trying to tailor them to fit our own lifestyles.
But that is what seems to be happening 
because too many Christians are unwilling to leave their comfort zones.
We are not ‘committed Christians’ when we 
introduce just enough ‘religious principles’ into our lives 
to be considered ‘religious’, while still clinging to the desires of the flesh.

A half-hearted Christian will say, “I will drink less alcohol”
while a fully committed Christian will say, “I will stop drinking alcohol”.
A half-hearted Christian will say, “I will cheat less on my spouse”
while a fully committed Christian will say, “I will not cheat on my spouse”.

A half-hearted Christian will say, “I won’t use as much profanity”
while a fully committed Christian will say, “I will stop using profanity”.
A half-hearted Christian will say, “I won’t get angry as often”
while a fully committed Christian will say, “I will control my anger”.

A half-hearted Christian will say, 
“I will give a little more money to the church”
while a fully committed Christian will say, 
“I will give what God expects me to give”.
A half-hearted Christian will say, “I will go to church a little more often”
while a fully committed Christian will say, “I will obey God’s command 
to meet with other believers in order to encourage them and to be encouraged”.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 
not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging 
one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

I’m sure we could add many more examples to the list above, but from these few 
we can see a distinct difference between half-heartedness and full commitment.
In order to reach the lost souls, we need strong, vigorous Christians 
who are fully committed to living for the Lord seven days a week.
We need Christians who are ethical, honest, gracious, bold, strong, 
and devoted followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

ACTION:
If you claim to be a Christian, how committed are you to the Lord?
Do others look at you as a ‘part-time’ or ‘full-time’ Christian?
Being fully committed does not mean you isolate yourself 
with a pious attitude of being better than others.

Christians are no better that non-Christians, but we have a greater 
destiny because we have become adopted children of God
as a result of the blood of Jesus sacrificed for us on the cross.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. 
Rather, in humility value others above yourselves (Philippians 2:3)

Instead of figuring out ways to justify being less committed, true believers will 
strive daily to become more committed to the Lord and His sound doctrines.
What areas of your life is the Lord speaking to you about right now? 

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, help me to stop justifying the things that are contrary 
to Your doctrines. Help me to commit to becoming more committed to 
You. Teach me how to point others to Jesus by the way I live my life as 
a Christian. I pray that I will create a desire in others to become fully
committed to You. Forgive me for my partial commitment, and create
in me a determination to release the things that are preventing me from
becoming fully committed to You.”

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