Commitment.

This morning was a very special one in Liberty Community Church – at least for Joyce and me! Having attended for a couple of years, we finally made it into full membership. After we had been welcomed in by Colin MacPhie (the “senior” elder), another of the elders, Alan Brodie, prayed for us. I can’t remember every word that he uttered, but I couldn’t forget his emphasis on the concept of commitment – our commitment to the Lord; our new commitment to the fellowship; and the fellowship’s commitment to us.
It’s quite a concept. And it’s one that is basic to the life of the Biblical Christian (not that there is really any other!!). Indeed, it is Jesus Himself Who provides what we might term a “contract for commitment” – you’ll find it in Dr Luke’s account of the Gospel, at what we refer to as Chapter 14, verses 25-35.
If you read that section of the New Testament, you’ll notice that it concerns the terms He asks. There are certain conditions that must be met if we are to be considered true disciples of Jesus. The first of these is that we must have absolute loyalty to His Person. No matter how strong and deep our love for those closest to us in our human relationships, our love for Him must make that love appear to be like hatred by comparison! Our relationship with Him must take priority. And, linked to that is identity with His purpose. That purpose, in its essence, was to bring new resources into mankind’s situation through His great sacrifice at Calvary. So where do we fit in? Well, Liberty Community Church is currently going through a series of lessons on “40 Days of Community”. Part of the teaching is that we look out for one another – and that includes the “others” whom we know who do not know Jesus, the Christ, as personal Saviour, Friend, and Lord. If our line is that we “can’t be bothered” about others, then we are not committed to Jesus – we are not His disciples.
But this contract for commitment also has to do with the tasks to which He calls. There are two basic tasks, the first of which is building. It’s the story of a man who wanted to build a tower. But, before doing so, he carefully made up a list of all of the materials that he would require, worked out the cost, and checked his bank balance in order to confirm that he had sufficient funds. The one who is committed to Jesus undertakes to build a tower – of love and compassion; of service and sacrifice. And such a one must consider the cost – a life of self-denial and watchfulness. But not only are the committed disciples faced with the task of building. We are also faced with battle. The Christian life is always a conflict – and Jesus promised nothing less. If we take a truly Christian stand, then we may be assured that we will make enemies. We need to be good-quality soldiers, committed to our Commander-in-Chief Who is Jesus and Who, by His own death and resurrection, has already gained the victory for those who are committed to Him.
The last thing we may note in those verses from Luke 14 concerns the truths of which He warns. Jesus states two particular truths, the first of which has to do with the quality discipleship requires. "Salt”, He says, “is useful only while it retains its saltiness.” But if salt loses this essential quality, how is it going to be restored? So, in discipleship. This commitment is an essential quality – Jesus Himself says so! And He speaks, too, of the disaster uselessness invites. We may “sign the contract”, as we go through the waters of baptism; or as we come into membership of a particular fellowship of God’s people – and then quietly opt out of any form of service, or even involvement. And, as soon as we do, we become useless – as useless as a handful of tasteless crystals would be to season a pot of soup!
Christian commitment – it’s not for the faint-hearted. But for those who do commit themselves, body, mind, and spirit, to the Living Lord, there is the assurance of His Presence throughout the whole of this life – and throughout eternity itself; power, through the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit; and the wonder of the parenthood of Almighty God. It’s not easy – but it’s well worth it!