August 2005
"When the council members heard Stephens's speech, they were angry and furious. But Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked toward heaven, where he saw our glorious God and Jesus standing at his right side. Then Stephen said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God!" The council members shouted and covered their ears. At once they all attacked Stephen and dragged him out of the city. Then they started throwing stones at him…..As Stephen was being stoned to death, he called out, "Lord Jesus please welcome me!" He knelt down and shouted, "Lord, don't blame them for what they have done." Then he died. (Acts 7:54-59, CEV).
WHAT ARE YOU COMMITTED TO?
What are you committed to? What is it that you are most passionate about?
What is it that claims your undivided attention? What is it that you will make whatever sacrifice necessary?
For most of us that are Christians without hesitation we will declare that it is our faith. It is our willingness
to be used by God in building His Kingdom. It is our love for Jesus our Lord and Savior. Yet, there are ushers
that serve when they want to; choir members who sing when it is convenient; and church members that come to worship
service when they feel like it. So, for many, what they say and what they do are not the same. According to Webster's New World Dictionary commitment means a pledge or promise to do something.
It means dedication to a long-term course of action; engagement; or involvement. If you were a car, commitment
would be the gasoline in your tank. It you were a tree, commitment would be the sap that goes through the branches.
For the human body, commitment is the blood that runs in the veins. It is that something that moves us to a particular
action. It is the thing above all other things that we cannot do without. It claims our attention and allegiance. How can you know what you are committed to? There are at least three ways to determine what
you are committed to. They are where you spend your time, talent and treasure. The amount of these three resources
that you give to something is a good barometer of how committed you are to it. Another good measurement is to consider
your personal area and see what has premiere position. Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart
be also" (Matt. 6:21). In the text above, Stephen gave his life rather than compromise his faith. His confession and his profession was the same. He lived and died to his commitment.
When he was arrested if he had held his peace and not preached about Jesus he could have saved his life. One who practices a watered-down, compromised, acceptance of the status-quo religion need not fear the world. But, Christianity is by nature a radical and non-conforming religion. To every would-be disciple Jesus said, "Count the cost" (Luke 14:28). There is a cost to committed and consecrated living. It cost the widow woman "even all her living. It cost John the Baptist his head. It cost Daniel to be cast in a lions' den. It cost Peter a martyr's death. It cost Abraham the yielding up of his son. It cost Jesus to die on the cross! What does it cost you? Your answer will help you to determine what you are committed to.
. In the text above, sometimes called
the Great Commission, we are
charged not just to win souls, but to
“make disciples.” I want to suggest
that once people accept Jesus Christ
they are positional disciples. They are
disciples by new birth (I Co. 5:17).
I believe it is the responsibility of the
church to teach them how to become
an experiential disciple, one who sees
disciple-making as his primary goal in
life. The text above admonishes us to
make the main thing, the main thing.
The main thing is to “win the world
for Christ.”
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