Committment?

The great theologian Bruce Waltke once said “We are never more like God than when we are making and keeping covenants.  But we are never less like God than when we are breaking covenants.”

What is a covenant?  A legally binding relationship.  Who makes them?  God does.  But what is so amazing is that God makes these commitments to people…to us.  He doesn’t have to, you know.  He doesn’t owe us anything.  He didn’t have to make us, love us or pursue us, but He does.  He doesn’t have to forgive us when we break His covenant, but He does…over and over again.  In fact, He takes the fall for us and pays the price by dying on our behalf.  He sends His son Jesus, to die on a cross in our place, to suffer a excruciating death in the process so we can stand forgiven before Him.  He is not only a knowable God but a God who wants us to know Him.  And He goes to such lengths to reveal Himself to us that He’s ready and willing to legally bind Himself to us.  He initiates the covenant with us, stands behind it and by it, and then gives us Himself to us so that we can have the power to obey it.  All because He wants us to know Him…the way He knows us.  “Now this is eternal life.  That they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3) And when we betray His grace (getting something we don’t deserve) He forgives us…over and over again.  Because God’s like that. 

Are you honoring your covenants/commitments the way God does?  If you’re married, you’ve entered into a covenant with a person for the rest of your life…until death parts you.  For better or worse.  In sickness or in health.  For richer or poorer.  No matter how hard it gets.  No matter what others say or do.

In a culture where commitments are avoided like a disease, commitment making and keeping people are needed more than ever.  Do you want to live distinctly for Jesus?  Then honor the commitments that you make.  To your spouse.  To your family.  To your church family.  To your friends.

Then we can truly be Jesus followers who extend grace.