Are You Fully Committed
The Call to Full Commitment: Living Beyond Lip Service
When we think about commitment, marriage often comes to mind. Two people standing before God and witnesses, making solemn vows to remain faithful until death parts them. It's a beautiful picture of devotion, a pledge that goes far deeper than words. Yet we all know that some marriages fail not because the vows weren't spoken, but because they weren't truly lived.
This same reality exists in our spiritual lives. Many people claim the name of Christ, yet their lives tell a different story. They've gone through the motions—walked an aisle, said a prayer, perhaps even gotten baptized—but something essential is missing. There's been no real transformation, no genuine commitment of the heart to God.
What Does True Commitment Look Like?
The apostle Paul wrote powerful words in 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here." This isn't merely poetic language; it's a description of what actually happens when someone truly commits their life to Christ. The old way of living passes away, and something fundamentally new takes its place.
Consider Paul's own story. On the road to Damascus, he encountered the risen Christ and his entire life changed direction. He wasn't rounding up Christians for persecution anymore. His behavior, his priorities, his very identity shifted completely. People could see the transformation because it was real.
When you make a genuine commitment to Christ, you're not just adding Jesus to your existing life. You're surrendering your life to follow His example. As 1 Peter 2:21 reminds us, "Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps."
The Example of Perfect Commitment
Jesus Christ demonstrated perfect commitment. Even in His darkest hour, facing unimaginable suffering, He never wavered. When they hurled insults at Him, He didn't retaliate. When He suffered, He made no threats. He bore our sins in His body on the cross so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness.
Think about that for a moment. Jesus could have called down legions of angels. He could have stepped off that cross. But He didn't break His commitment to the Father's will, and because of that unwavering dedication, we have salvation, redemption, and healing available to us today.
This is the standard we're called to follow. Not perfection in our own strength, but complete surrender to God's will in our lives.
The Danger of Divided Loyalty
One of the clearest warnings in Scripture comes from Matthew 6:24: "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other."
You cannot live with one foot in God's kingdom and one foot in the world. It simply doesn't work. The world and its desires are passing away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever (1 John 2:17).
Judas Iscariot learned this truth the hard way. He started out fully committed. Jesus gave him power to heal the sick and cast out demons alongside the other disciples. But somewhere along the way, his loyalty began to shift. It didn't happen overnight. The devil is patient, drawing people away slowly, subtly, until one day they've crossed a line they never thought they'd cross.
For thirty pieces of silver, Judas betrayed the Son of God. And even after receiving the money, he realized its worthlessness. He threw it down and went out and hanged himself. What seemed so important—the money, the worldly gain—meant nothing in the end.
The Slow Fade
Perhaps the most dangerous threat to commitment isn't dramatic backsliding but spiritual drowsiness. The fire that once burned bright begins to dim. Talents that were once used for God's glory sit idle. Duties that were once joyfully fulfilled are neglected.
Maybe you tell yourself you're too busy. Perhaps you've decided you've "paid your dues" and someone else can take over now. Or maybe you're just going by your feelings rather than by faith and obedience.
But here's the truth: as we continue our journey with the Lord, our service should be increasing, not decreasing. We should be doing more for Him, not less. Full commitment means serving Jesus and doing God's will in your life—not your own will, but His.
When Commitment Is Tested
In the Garden of Gethsemane, we see Jesus in deep anguish. His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. He prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42).
Jesus struggled. The Bible doesn't hide this fact. As the Son of Man, He felt the weight of what was coming. But even in His sorrow, even in His suffering, He remained fully committed to the Father's will.
God sent an angel to strengthen Him, showing us that when we're struggling to maintain our commitment, God is mindful of us. He sees. He cares. He provides strength.
Peter, on the other hand, provides a cautionary tale. He boldly declared he would die for Jesus. He was confident in his own strength. But when the moment of testing came, he denied even knowing Christ—not once, but three times.
Jesus knew Peter's heart. He knew there was weakness there, a lack of full commitment. And when the heat was turned up, Peter tried to save his own skin.
The Cost of Full Commitment
Jesus made it clear: "Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:37-38).
This is radical language. It means putting Christ first—before family, before friends, before personal comfort or ambition. It might mean spending more time in prayer than in entertainment. It might mean choosing church over social gatherings. It might mean standing alone when others walk away.
Standing Firm in the Final Hour
We live in times when people leave churches over offenses, when commitment lasts only as long as everything goes smoothly. But 1 John 2:19 tells us, "They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us."
True commitment endures. It doesn't listen to gossip. It doesn't get distracted by idle talk. It stays focused on the mission Jesus gave us.
The devil will throw every roadblock imaginable in your path. He'll use people, circumstances, disappointments, and distractions. But you must push through. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
The Question Before You
So here's the question that demands an honest answer: Are you fully committed?
Not partially. Not when it's convenient. Not when you feel like it. But truly, completely, wholeheartedly committed to following Jesus Christ?
If there's sin in your life that you're unwilling to release, you're not fully committed. If your priorities place anything above God, you're not fully committed. If you're trying to serve two masters, you're not fully committed.
Jesus doesn't share your heart with the devil. You must choose.
The time is short. The hour is late. This is not the moment for half-hearted Christianity or spiritual drowsiness. This is the time to wake up, examine your heart, and make the choice to be fully committed to the One who was fully committed to you—even unto death on a cross.
The question remains: Are you fully committed?
When we think about commitment, marriage often comes to mind. Two people standing before God and witnesses, making solemn vows to remain faithful until death parts them. It's a beautiful picture of devotion, a pledge that goes far deeper than words. Yet we all know that some marriages fail not because the vows weren't spoken, but because they weren't truly lived.
This same reality exists in our spiritual lives. Many people claim the name of Christ, yet their lives tell a different story. They've gone through the motions—walked an aisle, said a prayer, perhaps even gotten baptized—but something essential is missing. There's been no real transformation, no genuine commitment of the heart to God.
What Does True Commitment Look Like?
The apostle Paul wrote powerful words in 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here." This isn't merely poetic language; it's a description of what actually happens when someone truly commits their life to Christ. The old way of living passes away, and something fundamentally new takes its place.
Consider Paul's own story. On the road to Damascus, he encountered the risen Christ and his entire life changed direction. He wasn't rounding up Christians for persecution anymore. His behavior, his priorities, his very identity shifted completely. People could see the transformation because it was real.
When you make a genuine commitment to Christ, you're not just adding Jesus to your existing life. You're surrendering your life to follow His example. As 1 Peter 2:21 reminds us, "Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps."
The Example of Perfect Commitment
Jesus Christ demonstrated perfect commitment. Even in His darkest hour, facing unimaginable suffering, He never wavered. When they hurled insults at Him, He didn't retaliate. When He suffered, He made no threats. He bore our sins in His body on the cross so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness.
Think about that for a moment. Jesus could have called down legions of angels. He could have stepped off that cross. But He didn't break His commitment to the Father's will, and because of that unwavering dedication, we have salvation, redemption, and healing available to us today.
This is the standard we're called to follow. Not perfection in our own strength, but complete surrender to God's will in our lives.
The Danger of Divided Loyalty
One of the clearest warnings in Scripture comes from Matthew 6:24: "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other."
You cannot live with one foot in God's kingdom and one foot in the world. It simply doesn't work. The world and its desires are passing away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever (1 John 2:17).
Judas Iscariot learned this truth the hard way. He started out fully committed. Jesus gave him power to heal the sick and cast out demons alongside the other disciples. But somewhere along the way, his loyalty began to shift. It didn't happen overnight. The devil is patient, drawing people away slowly, subtly, until one day they've crossed a line they never thought they'd cross.
For thirty pieces of silver, Judas betrayed the Son of God. And even after receiving the money, he realized its worthlessness. He threw it down and went out and hanged himself. What seemed so important—the money, the worldly gain—meant nothing in the end.
The Slow Fade
Perhaps the most dangerous threat to commitment isn't dramatic backsliding but spiritual drowsiness. The fire that once burned bright begins to dim. Talents that were once used for God's glory sit idle. Duties that were once joyfully fulfilled are neglected.
Maybe you tell yourself you're too busy. Perhaps you've decided you've "paid your dues" and someone else can take over now. Or maybe you're just going by your feelings rather than by faith and obedience.
But here's the truth: as we continue our journey with the Lord, our service should be increasing, not decreasing. We should be doing more for Him, not less. Full commitment means serving Jesus and doing God's will in your life—not your own will, but His.
When Commitment Is Tested
In the Garden of Gethsemane, we see Jesus in deep anguish. His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. He prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42).
Jesus struggled. The Bible doesn't hide this fact. As the Son of Man, He felt the weight of what was coming. But even in His sorrow, even in His suffering, He remained fully committed to the Father's will.
God sent an angel to strengthen Him, showing us that when we're struggling to maintain our commitment, God is mindful of us. He sees. He cares. He provides strength.
Peter, on the other hand, provides a cautionary tale. He boldly declared he would die for Jesus. He was confident in his own strength. But when the moment of testing came, he denied even knowing Christ—not once, but three times.
Jesus knew Peter's heart. He knew there was weakness there, a lack of full commitment. And when the heat was turned up, Peter tried to save his own skin.
The Cost of Full Commitment
Jesus made it clear: "Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:37-38).
This is radical language. It means putting Christ first—before family, before friends, before personal comfort or ambition. It might mean spending more time in prayer than in entertainment. It might mean choosing church over social gatherings. It might mean standing alone when others walk away.
Standing Firm in the Final Hour
We live in times when people leave churches over offenses, when commitment lasts only as long as everything goes smoothly. But 1 John 2:19 tells us, "They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us."
True commitment endures. It doesn't listen to gossip. It doesn't get distracted by idle talk. It stays focused on the mission Jesus gave us.
The devil will throw every roadblock imaginable in your path. He'll use people, circumstances, disappointments, and distractions. But you must push through. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
The Question Before You
So here's the question that demands an honest answer: Are you fully committed?
Not partially. Not when it's convenient. Not when you feel like it. But truly, completely, wholeheartedly committed to following Jesus Christ?
If there's sin in your life that you're unwilling to release, you're not fully committed. If your priorities place anything above God, you're not fully committed. If you're trying to serve two masters, you're not fully committed.
Jesus doesn't share your heart with the devil. You must choose.
The time is short. The hour is late. This is not the moment for half-hearted Christianity or spiritual drowsiness. This is the time to wake up, examine your heart, and make the choice to be fully committed to the One who was fully committed to you—even unto death on a cross.
The question remains: Are you fully committed?
Recent
Archive
2026
2025
May
August
September
October
November
Categories
no categories
No Comments