“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28
Dear Ones:
In the book of Isaiah, in reading of “…a child is born, and unto us a Son is given,” Isaiah adds: “…and the government shall be upon His shoulder.” (9:6) This “government” is Christ’s authority, His Kingship and reign over the heart and mind of the believer. How does this “government,” or reign, apply to the matter of commitment? To answer the question, it is important to look at the context of Christ’s call to us to commit all to Him.
If there is one thing that we see when we look over the vast sea of humanity, it is a world where submission to the authority of Christ is not common. There is not a right response to the call of God to come, believe, and surrender. When Jesus called his disciples, He called them to “follow” Him. The act and attitude of following him immediately reveals that there is a choice made, one of submitting to the authority of another, in this case, Christ. There are no conditions in this submission, for the call of Christ applies to the entire life, and all that concerns it. What is paramount to grasp is that the call of Christ is superior to any and all other “calls” in life. There is no higher allegiance than that which Christ requires. The issue of commitment is a call to, “…gladly leave the world behind, and count all gain as loss.” (David Livingstone) So, the context in which the call of Christ comes is that of an unbelieving world, and the individual heart. It is only when the light of the Gospel begins to enter the soul and heart, by the Spirit of God, that one becomes aware of this calling of Christ. When the objective truths of the Gospel are understood and embraced, grace is given in response to the heart’s cry for strength to come to Christ, committing oneself to Him without reserve. What then are the specific “contents” of commitment, the proper response to Christ, that which is concretely clear and convincing?
When Jesus met Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus, the response of Saul was to ask two questions: The first was: “Who art Thou, Lord?” The second was: “Lord, What do You want me to do?” Here is revealed two elements of commitment. One has to do with the true knowledge of the Eternal One who calls to the individual to commitment, and the other has to do with the unreserved, unconditional, engaging of mind, heart, soul and body, to follow the One who calls. Commitment to Christ, placing the government of one’s life upon the shoulders of Christ, is not an end in and of itself. However, there is a remarkable dynamic that immediately comes into play when one commits oneself to God. In the committal, one actually turns away from a life of “rags,” those concepts and resources of sin, sin’s nature, and the consequences of sin, turning to all that is good, right, certain and holy, in Christ. It is a committal to know true Life and the Love of God, as opposed to the slavery to do one’s own sinful will, which is not blessed of God.
In Psalm 37, there is a beautiful, specific application of all that has been said concerning commitment. David writes: “Commit your WAY unto the Lord; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” (v.5) Here is an act of putting the responsibility of the direction of one’s life entirely on the blessed, and competent shoulders of the Lord. With the position taken to trust, and continuing to trust, comes the promise of God: “And He (God) shall bring it to pass.” The believer who would LIVE a life of continual commitment is the one who lives in the reality of “…all things working together for good.” Christ, regardless of circumstance, becomes the sovereign Director, Guide, and Provider of life…in love.
Dear Father, Strengthen us to LIVE a life of commitment, receiving all from Your hand. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad