Recommitment
Being called into God’s way of life represents such a radical departure from the course of this world. The initial commitment, however, was so worth the reconciliation we had with our Father, and then with the future potential to enter into His very family as spirit born members. But our commitment will surely be tried!
In the physical realm, the United States Civil War of 1861 represented a time of commitment for President Abraham Lincoln. Should he allow the Union to split and slavery to continue? He could not allow that on either count. So, he committed to preserving the one and ending the other. He had committed to radical change.
Noble as his commitment was, it was severely challenged. More Americans would be lost in that Civil War than in both World Wars combined. Understandably, President Lincoln was pressured by many to stop short of the radical change he had put his hand to. Thankfully, instead of capitulating, he recommitted to the course already started.
We know that our commitment to God and His way of life has been and will be severely challenged as well. As good soldiers of Jesus Christ we must continually recommit to the fight within our own minds. But it is not a fight of personal power or might as some would see a physical battle to be.
Our recommitment has nothing to do with self-bravado. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children” (Ephesians 5:1). We follow God and His way as dear children — little children. Christ said that except we become as humble little children, we will not enter God’s Kingdom. Our recommitment, then, is founded in the humility that allows our faith to be in God and in accomplishing His will for us.
“And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma” (Ephesians 5:2). Paul’s carry-on thoughts instruct us to walk in love (keeping the spiritual intent of the law) just as Christ did for us. Christ’s walk was impossible without that same child-like humility and confidence He had in our Father and His will.
We must never forget that our daily recommitment to God’s way isn’t based in self-power. Self-power can fail us and cause doubt. Concerning failure we read: “But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God’” (Luke 9:62). With the attitude of a little child and the faith it engenders, we can steadfastly recommit to keeping our hand on the plow no matter how severely we may be challenged!
Marshall Stiver
