HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 62
page A60
Commitment continued
Commitment to the Lord manifests itself in obedient trust.
• L U K E 1 4 :2 7 -2 8 | “If you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my
disciple. But don’t begin until you count the cost.” (See note on page 938.)
Commitment to God is costly because to follow him is to leave lesser, but very attractive,
things behind.
• DA NI E L 3 :1 7 -1 8 | “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is
able to save us. . . . But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty,
that we will never serve your gods.”
Commitment is being willing to accept the sometimes painful consequences of obedience
to God. When you are committed to God, there will always be those committed to opposing you and all you stand for. This is the essence of spiritual warfare, and in any battle
there will be some wounds.
• R O MA NS 1 2 :1 | Give your bodies to God.
Commitment is more than intellectual agreement; it involves a sacrificial giving of the
whole self.
What are my most important commitments?
• MAT T H E W 2 2 :3 7 -3 8 | “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul,
and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”
C
HelpFinder
• J O H N 6 :6 6 -6 9 | At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then
Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” Simon Peter replied,
“Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and
we know you are the Holy One of God.”
To love and honor God in all you do.
• J O H N 1 3 :3 4 -3 5 | “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as
I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the
world that you are my disciples.”
To love all people at all times.
• J O H N 1 5 :5 , 1 6 | “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and
I in them, will produce much fruit. . . . I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so
that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.”
To serve the Lord by continuing Christ’s work in the world.
• G E NE S I S 2 :2 4 | This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his
wife, and the two are united into one.
• SO NG O F S O NG S 8 :6 | Place me like a seal over your heart. . . . For love is as strong as
death. (See note on page 602.)
• H E B R E W S 1 3 :4 | Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage.
God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.
To love and be devoted to your spouse.
• PR O V E R B S 2 2 :6 | Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they
will not leave it.
To love your children and give them spiritual training and explain the gospel of Jesus to
them.
Why is commitment so hard?
• NE H E MI A H 5 :1 6 | I also devoted myself to working on the wall. (See note on page 431.)
Commitment is never easy; it requires courageous perseverance.
What can I do if I have broken a commitment?
• 1 J O H N 1 :9 | If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and
to cleanse us from all wickedness.