Welcome to worship!

         A truth that has made a real difference in my life is this: The person you are today and your ability to make a difference in the world are largely related to the commitments you make and keep over your lifetime.

You’ve heard the phrase “you are what you eat.” I would argue that “you are what you commit to.” For example, your marriage commitment has shaped your life. Instead of considering divorce when times got tough, you have learned to forgive, to serve and to love. That commitment has helped transform your life. It has helped define who you are.

What happens when you make a positive commitment? You set your sights to make the sacrifice necessary to keep that commitment. That commitment focuses your life, taking you in a positive direction. That commitment propels you into a series of decisions which shape your character and mold your heart. That commitment changes your thinking and motivates your actions.

Biblical examples abound. Jonathan made a commitment to David. The result: acts of selfless love that shaped both lives. Nehemiah made a commitment to rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. The result: not only a wall rebuilt, but a people who had rediscovered what they could do with God’s help. Paul made a commitment to preaching the Gospel. The result: a world turned spiritually upside-down.

Commitment. It shapes our lives and it gets things done. Without it, nothing much changes. Show me the person who won’t or can’t commit, and I’ll show you a person who has little impact in the world, a person whose life is static and whose influence is small.

After coming to know Jesus, your spiritual commitments are still very important. When you commit to a church Body, for example, your loyalty and love are tested and proven. When you commit yourself to spiritual disciplines, your life is enriched and your character deepened. When you commit to finding our ministry gifts and using them to serve others, your influence with others flourishes. When you commit yourself to being an active witness for Christ, people come to know our Lord, and our lives are changed as we see God work in and through us.

          Whenever you study Scripture or hear it being taught, always be open to the people, principles, ideas, projects or actions to which God wants you to commit. Why? Because the person you are today and your ability to make a difference in the world are largely related to the commitments you make and keep over your lifetime.