Title: Commitment Births Commitment
Memorize: Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ Matthew 22:37 (Nkjv)
Bible Reading: Genesis 22:1-18 (Nkjv)
[1] Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”
[2] Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
[3] So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
[4] Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.
[5] And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”
[6] So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.
[7] But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
[8] And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.
[9] Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.
[10] And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
. . .
Message:
God does not joke with anyone who is committed to Him. When He sees a committed fellow who will do anything to fulfill His will, He will also be committed to that fellow. For instance, Abraham’s heart was totally committed to God to the extent that he was willing to sacrifice his son just to fulfill God’s will. That was why God was so committed to blessing him, even to the extent of swearing thus: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son-” (Genesis 22:16 Nkjv). My dear child, how committed are you in your service to God? How committed are you to winning souls for Christ?
Some church workers are not committed enough to God’s work, yet they want Him to be committed to their lives. Some teenagers are still ashamed to associate with other believers in their schools not to talk of preaching the gospel there, yet they want God to be committed to their academic success. Beloved, God can see your level of commitment, and He is going to use it to weigh His commitment to you as well.
Action Point:
The level of your commitment to God may determine His commitment to you.
Hymn 12: Onward Christian Soldiers
1. Onward, Christian soldiers,
marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before!
Christ, the royal Master,
leads against the foe;
Forward into battle, see his banner go!
Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before!
2. At the name of Jesus
Satan’s host doth flee;
On, then, Christian soldiers,
on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver
at the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices,
loud your anthems raise!
3. Like a mighty army
moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading
where the saints have trod;
We are not divided; all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.
4. Crowns and thrones may perish,
Kingdoms rise and wane;
But the church Jesus
constant will remain:
Gates of hell can never
‘gainst that church prevail
We have Christ’s own promise
and that cannot fail
5. Onward, then, ye people,
join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices,
in the triumph song;
Glory, praise and honour,
unto Christ the King;
This through countless ages,
men and angels sing.
Bible In One Year: Jeremiah 37:1-38:28, 1 Timothy 6:1-21
Authors: Pastor E. A. Adeboye and Pastor Folu Adeboye