Year of Committment

I won't make this the typical New Year's resolution post, but I wanted to say welcome to 2009. I think it will be full of success on happiness!

The other night at church, I gave our mid-week service invitation. I talked about the difference between being committed and conflicted. I think that many times as Christians, we are conflicted with worldly pressures. When we are committed, we are focused, determined, unwavering, and unselfish. When we are conflicted, we are divided, swaying, and flimsy.

I like what Deuteronomy 6:4-9 says. (ESV)

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.

This is where it all begins. To be committed, everything has to be focused on God. It has to be ingrained in you, part of your daily habits. If not, you will fail.

That makes me think of the rich young ruler in Luke 18. His mind was ready for commitment, but his heart was far from it. He had a stumbling block that he couldn't just remove.

So 2009 for me will involve more commitment in everything I do. How about you?