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Radical Commitment (2)
‘Take up your cross daily, and follow Me.’ Luke 9:23 NLT
Let’s consider:
(1) Commitment at work. In the past, employers valued their workers and workers valued their employers. But today’s workplace has become increasingly adversarial, with workers resenting their bosses and doing the bare minimum, while bosses are often demanding and take their employees for granted. God’s way calls for mutual commitment. ‘Don’t work hard only when your master is watching and then shirk when he isn’t looking; work hard and with gladness all the time, as though working for Christ.’ (Ephesians 6:6–7 TLB) If you are an employer, take note who you represent—God.
(2) Commitment at church. Many folks have a casual, cafeteria-style approach to church: they pick what they like and leave what they don’t. Jesus said, ‘I will build My church.’ (Matthew 16:18 NIV) And membership in it calls for a covenant relationship between believers: one in which we agree to encourage, nurture, protect, cherish, pray for each other, and fulfil our mission together (see 1 Corinthians 12:12–31).
(3) Commitment to Christ. Jesus made a radical commitment to us through His birth, life, suffering, crucifixion, and death, and He asks us to commit radically to Him. ‘Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow Me.”’
That means you no longer follow your own wishes or will, but follow the Lord, His wishes and His will. That’s radical commitment, and it’s what God expects from you.
written by Bob Gass
‘Take up your cross daily, and follow Me.’ Luke 9:23 NLT
Let’s consider:
(1) Commitment at work. In the past, employers valued their workers and workers valued their employers. But today’s workplace has become increasingly adversarial, with workers resenting their bosses and doing the bare minimum, while bosses are often demanding and take their employees for granted. God’s way calls for mutual commitment. ‘Don’t work hard only when your master is watching and then shirk when he isn’t looking; work hard and with gladness all the time, as though working for Christ.’ (Ephesians 6:6–7 TLB) If you are an employer, take note who you represent—God.
(2) Commitment at church. Many folks have a casual, cafeteria-style approach to church: they pick what they like and leave what they don’t. Jesus said, ‘I will build My church.’ (Matthew 16:18 NIV) And membership in it calls for a covenant relationship between believers: one in which we agree to encourage, nurture, protect, cherish, pray for each other, and fulfil our mission together (see 1 Corinthians 12:12–31).
(3) Commitment to Christ. Jesus made a radical commitment to us through His birth, life, suffering, crucifixion, and death, and He asks us to commit radically to Him. ‘Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow Me.”’
That means you no longer follow your own wishes or will, but follow the Lord, His wishes and His will. That’s radical commitment, and it’s what God expects from you.
written by Bob Gass
