BBD 10.20.05 Commitment
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
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The Burning Bush Devotional
1,899 New Subscribers since November 2004
10.20.05
Commitment
Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him,
"Lord, I will follow You wherever You go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes
have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere
to lay His head." Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord,
let me first go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury
their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God." And another also
said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell
who are at my house." 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 9:57-62.
Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." - Luke 9:23.
Three years ago, Brett Backwell broke his ring finger playing Australian
Rules football. Since then Brett has experienced much pain from the injury.
Doctors suggested that he have the bone of the finger fused but Bret has
decided on a different option. To keep on playing football at the
professional level he has had half of his ring finger amputated. Brett says,
"It's not something that's been done lightly and to chop a finger off, it's
a bit drastic. But I love my footy and love playing sport and if that's
going to help me to succeed at this level then it's something you've just
got to do." Ken Applegarth the Glenelg club manager says, "The decision was
an emotional one that confirmed Backwell's commitment to his sport."
Commitment is not a popular term in today's world and to hear of anyone
being truly committed to anything is somewhat shocking. We see signs of a
lack of commitment everywhere. The divorce rate is still climbing but also
those living together outside of marriage are increasing with one-third of
all children being born out of wedlock as the evidence of it. Surveys show
that brand loyalty has decreased, fewer numbers of people are willing to
join any organization, the percentage of those willing to fight for their
country has continued to drop, parents are less willing to remain in a
marriage for the sake of their children, and those agreeing to attend or
participate in an event but who later do not show up or back out is also
continuing to increase.
A lack of true commitment has been a problem for the cause of Christ since
the beginning. Jesus experienced first hand people who were somewhat
involved until there was a cost involved and then they turned away from Him.
Until after the resurrection the record of the disciples who were totally
committed to Him was very, very few - most of them fled when the going got
tough fearing that they themselves would be crucified.
Jesus never says that being a Christian is easy. He does say that His yoke
is easy but it is still a yoke. Jesus indicates up front that it is not an
easy road when he says, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." He makes it even clearer
when He says, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and
take up his cross daily, and follow Me." In other words, take up your
instrument of execution every day and follow Him. Put your own personal
desires, wants, dreams, habits, addictions, lusts to death every day and
follow Him. That is a commitment indeed!
That kind of commitment that Jesus calls us to is very difficult but the
alternative is so much worse. The only way we can really have life and
really live life to the ultimate is through a true commitment to Jesus
Christ. Have you renewed your commitment to Him today? If so, rise up and
follow Him.
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