"Commitment"

There is nothing more heart wrenching than listen to someone speak about their mate and how little interest they have in the Lord. A lovely sister in Christ came up to me recently and expressed how she tries so hard to live her life for the Lord and take His humble and loving qualities, using them in her home. Her husband responds with no interest and could care less. Then she said, "It made me so sad when my husband said my life revolving around the Lord was a waste for him and her!" The tears filled her eyes and no telling the depth of pain in her heart. As she continued speaking, she told of the abuses, both verbal and physical that she had endured from her husbands hands because of her walk with Christ. No one knew what her pain and difficulties were in her personal life. Her words rang in my ears, "Divorce is never an option in my heart!" Her love for the Lord and commitment to His cause had created an undying love to follow His will. Her marriage was not good but she was committed because of Christ.

I only wished others were that committed. We know little of commitment and sacrifice. As long we don't have to suffer much, we will endure but when things really get tough, we start looking for a way out. We have taken on the attitude of the world around us that we don't have to put up with the hurts from someone. There is little endurance, little perseverance and the result is little faith grown. Stephen, when facing hostilities against himself didn't try to wiggle out of the situation and quit! He trusted God to bring him through and God did. God speaks to wives who live with disobedient husbands, to live their lives in loving and respectful behavior because they have hope in God (I Pet. 3:1-6). We find ourselves in difficulties and we begin thinking how unfair or how badly we are hurting. We want to quit! Why are we so quick to come to that conclusion? Maybe we have such little commitment to God and our hope is not placed in Him.

What if Jesus was not committed? It was for the hope He had that He went all the way through, trusting in God (Heb. 12:1-2). Paul speaks of exalting in the hope of the glory of God, which meant he could exalt in tribulations, because they are what brought about perseverance. It is perseverance that brings proven character and proven character hope. Hope will never disappoint, no matter what we face in our lives (Rom. 5:1-5). If we have no hope, we have lost our faith (Heb. 11:1) If we have lost our faith, we are people most pitied!