Committed to Christ

“Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned). When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, saying, ‘We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.’ But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.’”  Acts 5:26-32

Have you ever considered the source of the motivation for your commitment to Jesus Christ? What motivates your commitment? When you are not sure you want to obey, consider this question: Would you rather obey God on this issue and allow Him to bless you or disobey God and spend the rest of your life wondering what God would have done with you if you had obeyed? That is a sobering question, isn’t it?

Friend, there are many good Christian folk who find themselves looking back to a time in their life when they stood on the threshold of decision and, because of an unbroken will or a weakness of the flesh, chose to serve self instead of God and are now wondering what God would have done with them if only they had submitted to His authority at that one point. Tragically, for many the actual point of contest did not at all satisfy as they had hoped.

If you have failed, God loves you just as much as ever, but you have to deal with lost opportunities which have gone by forever. Today’s warning: Check yourself. Are you committed to obedience?

“We are called to be holy at any and every cost. If obedience costs you your life, then pay it.” -Oswald Chambers