I was inspired to share about commitment because it typified my late father's life and I thought what better way to honor him than to share on what was his biggest asset in my view. He was totally committed to my mother, his children, his work, and his faith. He was a quiet man, but you could always depend on him. Dad ended his life well.
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
May it be said of you and I that we were faithful until the end, just like the apostle Paul. Paul is also a great example of a faithful man. I believe that faithfulness was the reason that my Dad was so successful in his life. He endured many struggles, but he stayed the course.
Psalm 37:4-5 4Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.
Paul had great revelations, but underwent constant attack from the enemy. His enemy was constantly probing for a weakness.
2 Corinthians 11:24-28 24Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
The best path to commitment is to walk by the spirit. If you are always trying to figure out life by your own five senses, you will fail, but to walk by the spirit is to do things God's way. Check with God's Word and speak in tongues much. Put your feet where God says to place them on that treacherous mountain path of life.
Proverbs 3:5-6 5Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Matthew 11:28-30 28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
It's hard to think of Paul's yoke being easy and his burden being light, but we know that he stayed the course. Paul was able to stay committed because he was confident in God and he knew that Jesus would stand in the gap for him thus keeping God's enemies at bay.
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Paul made mistakes just as we do. For example, he did go to Jerusalem when he wasn't supposed to. He recognized his mistakes and got back in alignment and harmony with God.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Godly relationships are built on love and our relationships with each other should have love as their foundation as well. Our walk with our heavenly father is all about love.
1 John 3:11 For this is the message that ye have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Matthew 22:36-40 36Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Jesus Christ is our greatest example of how to love God and live a godly lifestyle. We can always look to the way he did things for examples on how to live life.
1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
It's been a great blessing to be your sister in Christ and to enjoy your fellowship. God bless you.ÿ
Note: All scripture is from the King James Version unless otherwise noted. NIV indicates The New International Version, NKJV indicates the New King James Version, ASV means the American Standard Version, BBE means the Bible in Basic English, DBY means the Darby translation, NAU means the American Standard Version, 1995 Edition, and NAB means the New American Bible translation. For more information, go to the Works Cited page.