By: Scott Shifferd
On whom can you rely? The days of “My word is my bond” have passed. Today, if you see a guarantee on a box, that note does not mean much. What happened to keeping one’s word? What happened to genuine sincerity of our words?
Where is devotion and commitment? People agree to marriage and do not keep it. However, when the marriage turns from better to worse or from richer to poorer, they depart each other before marriage. Few people agree to a contract and keep it. At some time in life, we say that we will do something and do not follow through with action.
What about commitments to God? Many of us drift from God sometimes quickly and sometimes gradually. Ministers, deacons, and even elders can disconnect. Many think little of being in the assembly, participating in Bible studies, and being a part of the church as a community. Many Christians grow lukewarm and begin a habit of forsaking the assembly, which is a sin (Heb 10:24–25). Some change churches to attend somewhere that is not biblical or edifying for the sake of personal preference and amusement. They blend a faith in Christ with “new age” paganism and atheistic thinking. “What fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?” (2 Cor 6:14b–15).
God owes us nothing, but God gives grace us because He loves us even while sinners (Rom 5:6–8, 15–17). God keeps His promises. As long as we walk in the light, the blood Christ cleanses us from all sins (1 John 1:5–10). We cannot continue in sin that grace may abound (Rom 6:1). We can thank God that He does not change His mind, keep holding sins against us, and remind us of what we have done (Heb 8:12).
Many find being dead to sin and alive for righteousness to be a burden (Rom 6). However, God’s commands are not burdensome (1 John 5:3). We will offer ourselves as living sacrifices when we realize Christ’s love in the gospel message. Then, the love of Christ controls and compels us to die to self and live for Christ. Paul revealed, “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Cor 5:14–15 ESV).
The fruit of walking in the Spirit is love, joy, peace, and so much more. All the things that really matter make enjoying God so wonderful. We have every reason to live like the first repentant believers on Pentecost who were devoted to the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayers (Acts 2:38, 42). No better life exists than living a life devoted to God with hope in the resurrection of Christ.
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