Whatever Happened To Commitment?
By Dennis Love
McDowell County
First Corinthians 15:58 says; “Therefore, my beloved brethren, by ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” This final verse in this great 15th chapter sums up what we are to be doing because the rapture of the church is imminent. Soon and very soon we will be “caught up” to meet the Lord in the air. I don’t know about you, but that lights a fire under my feet, and makes goosebumps pop out all over me big enough to hang a hat on!
The word “abounding” in this verse literally means “to excel.” God wants us to excel for Him. The Greek thought here has nothing to do with personal greatness. The Bible is not talking about becoming a big-name preacher, an international recording artist, or a Christian celebrity. Instead, the word here is used to convey the idea of giving 100 percent. Jesus is telling us that He expects us to give the best we have with what we’ve got. In other words, God wants us to live for Jesus like this might be our last day on earth. He wants us to be committed.
Jesus said in Luke 19:13; “Occupy till I come.” That word “occupy” doesn’t mean to just sit down and take up space in a pew. It literally means, “to be busy.” Luke 19:13 could literally read; “Be busy until I come.” As we get closer to the coming of the Lord for His church, our attitude should be…..” Hallelujah, I get to serve,” not “Oh no, I’ve got to serve.” We only have one opportunity to live for the One who has saved us, and that opportunity is now. Brothers and Sisters, you and I will never pass this way again. What a terrible shame it would be to waste the gifts, abilities, and opportunities that have been given to us.
These are not the days to be lazy about serving our soon-coming King. Our prayer should be….. “Lord, I don’t want to back up, give up, shut up, or let up…until I am taken up!”
I know the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the church. Almost every church I know has suffered a loss of members. Remember, the church is not going down, the church is going up! Therefore, this is an exciting time in the history of the church, and in our individual lives. Why? Because we could indeed be the generation that exits this world without going through the graveyard! We could be the generation that doesn’t see death! This is not the time to be less committed to the Lord and His church. This is the time to be more committed than ever to the Lord and His church. I do not want to stand before Jesus and hear Him say to me; “What happened to your commitment?” Jesus is coming soon, and the time to be committed to the Lord and His church is now!
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Dr. Dennis Love is the Associational Missions Strategist for the Blue Ridge Baptist Association in McDowell County. Dr. Love has been in full-time ministry work for 31 years. He and his wife Vicki have been married for almost 42 years, and they have lived in Marion for almost 8 years. They have two sons, four grandchildren and two step-grandchildren. He can be reached via email at: dlovebrba@yahoo.com
Read more of his articles here….
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