Originally Posted on February 11, 2016
To be a new you in 2016, you must be committed. To commit yourself means you entrust yourself. You obligate yourself to a task. In Psalm 37:5 (NKJV) David tells us: “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in him, and He shall bring it to pass.”
The word that scares people in the church to death is commitment. People just want to be along for the ride; push a pew if you will; go along to get along. Let somebody else do it. The gospel of the Lord Jesus is a gospel of activity in the Lord. The first two letters of the word gospel are go. In Matt. 28:19-20 (NKJV) Jesus states: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
The Christian faith is not passive. It is an active faith! You are either committed to God or to yourself. In Matt. 6:24 (NKJV) Jesus states: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” You just think that you are straddling the fence. You are not! You are attempting to serve two masters. Jesus said you cannot do that and be successful. God’s people are not committed, and it is the very reason that the church is not making the difference in the world as God has called it to do. It is not just coming to church. It is being the church in the world! It is exemplifying the Lord Jesus in your actions, attitudes, and lifestyle.
In 2016, I dare you to be the salt of the earth! In Matt. 5:13 (NKJV) Jesus states: “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” Spice this old world up with radical Christian living!
In 2016, I dare you to be the light of the world! We are living in dark, evil days. Jack Stanton said: “The darker the day; the brighter you can shine!” Never in history has there been a more exciting time to be a Christian than today! In Matt.5:16 (NKJV) Jesus states: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Don’t worry that your commitment to Christ in 2016 will hurt you. In Matt. 6:33 (NKJV) Jesus states: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” To be a new you in 2016, you must be committed! Are you?
Jeff Harvel 