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LIFE COMMITMENT
Romans 12:1-2 - "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God---this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is---his good, pleasing and perfect will."
A life commitment to God is similar to the marriage decision. You first consider the cost and your reasons for making the decision. Second, you make your decision. You are; then, to live the rest of you life based on that decision.
A commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord requires that we have a willingness to make any lifestyle changes we need to make to fully follow the path that Jesus followed Himself and that He wants us to follow (Lk 9:57-62; 14:26-34) It requires a radical lifestyle
change!
THE COST - C.R.O.S.S.
Confess and forsake - we must be willing to go from self-deception to
honesty before God about our sin. We must go from "I was not wrong!"
(when we are wrong) to "I was wrong!" I Jn 1:8-10
Rely - We must be willing to go from self-sufficiency to constantly depending on God's sufficiency. We must go from "I can do it myself!" to "I can only do it with God's strength!" John 15:5; Proverbs 3:5,6 (God uses trials in our lives to turn us from trusting in ourselves to trusting in God - strength is perfected in weakness! II Cor 12:7-10; 1:8-10; James 1:2-4; Roms 5:3-5; Hebr 12:11)
Obey - We must be willing to go from self-will to God's will. We must go from "I will do it my way!" to "I will do it God's way!" Jn 8:31-32; Mt 6:24; Lk 6:46
Seek God - We must be willing to go from self-centered living to God- centered living. We must go from "I will seek out my plans and goals for my life!" to "I will seek out God plans and goals for my life!" Mt 6:33; Prov 2:1-6; Phil 3:10; I Pet 2:2; Ps 119
Sacrificially serve - We must be willing to go from self-serving to serving God and others. We must go from "I will think first of #1!" to "I will make God's goals and the needs of others my #1 priority!" Mt 20:26-28; Lk 17:7-10; Jn 13:34-35; Phil 2:3,4 (A willingness to humble ourselves - Jn 13:12-17; a willingness to suffer - Mt 26:38; Jn 15:18-20)
Luke 9:23-24 - "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it but whoever loses his life for me will save it."
THE REASON
The mercies of God - God gave His Son as a sacrifice for us (Jn 3:16; I Pet 1:18-19). The Old Testament sacrifices are a picture of God's sacrifice for us. He went to the cross for us. It is appropriate that we be willing to make the same type of sacrificial choices that He made for us---follow Him on the path to the cross.
The strength of God - He has given us His strength so that we can follow Christ (Col 1:28-29; Phil 4:13).
The help of God - If we seek Him first in our lives, He promises to take care of us (Mt 6:33; 11:28-30; 28:20; Hbr 13:5-6)
THE DECISION
OFFER YOUR BODIES AS LIVING SACRIFICES
Bodies? Our all! (Rom 6:13)
Living? Decision by decision! (Rom 6:15-22)
Holy and pleasing to God? God made them pleasing (Rom 8:3-4)
Do not be conformed to this world? (I Jn 2:15-17)
Be transformed? (II Cor 3:18)
THE RESULT
"And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."
RESOURCES: THE PURSUIT OF HOLINESS by Jerry Bridges; A PASSIONATE COMMITMENT by Crawford Loritts; CLOSE TO HIS MAJESTY by David Needham
ASSIGNMENT:
1. Consider the cost and the reason. Are you willing, before God, to make the decision to commit you life fully to God as Paul invites us to do in Romans 12:1,2? If you are, choose a place to do it. Then, before God, tell Him of your commitment to Him.
2. Do you believe that this type of commitment is an option for a Christian?