(John Vann)

Commitment

Athletes are committed to their sport. They show up for the game suited up and ready to play no matter what the conditions are like. They don’t just stay at home because they don’t like what the weather conditions are like. What if they were to say “I can just stay at home and watch the game on TV?” Well, that’s the way some people treat church. People make all kinds of excuses for not going to church. There have been times that I didn’t feel like going to church. But, I did and I received a blessing from it. Anytime we are in God‘s house, worshiping God and hearing God‘s word it should be a blessing to us.

Athletes are committed to playing their game because they are athletes. And that is what they do. Doctors are committed to healing people and finding cures for diseases. Because they are doctors and that’s what doctors do. So, we say that we are committed to Jesus because we are Christians. Right? Do you know the word Christian literally means followers of Christ? And being committed to Jesus is what we are supposed to do.

What if doctors were not committed to finding cures for diseases? Then cures would never be found. What if athletes were not committed to playing their sport? How many games would their team win? If Christians aren’t committed to Jesus, how many souls will be saved? How many of our friends and relatives will spend their eternity in hell because of our lack of commitment?

Everyone is not a doctor. Everyone is not an athlete. Sadly, everyone is not a Christian.
So how do we fit into this picture? Are we committed to Jesus? Are we furthering his cause? Or, are we sitting on the sidelines watching other people play the game? We all need to be team players on Jesus‘s team. Playing against the rival team of Satan and his advocates. Jesus doesn’t need us to sit on the sidelines. He needs us to be committed to winning the competition with him. Jesus, the great physician needs us on his staff, helping to cure the world of the horrible disease of sin.

So how can we be a team member? We can come to church, we can tithe, we can give our testimony and we can be witnesses for Jesus. We can help those who are in need. We could be good Samaritans, instead of passing by on the other side of the road.

What if police officers were not committed to stopping evil doers? What if fireman were not committed to putting out fires? Christian’s should be Jesus’s policemen, stopping evil doers wherever they are. Sin is like a wildfire spreading through our country. Spreading through our world. We need to be Jesus’s firemen, committed to putting out the wildfires of sin that are raging out of control.

America’s was once known for fighting evil wherever it was at. Our soldiers were committed to stopping the evil doers, even if it meant their lives were at stake. Are you a soldier in God’s army? Are you willing to put your life at stake to further his cause?
In this day and time we find people who aren’t committed to anything. Employees not committed to doing their jobs. Employers not committed to taking care of their employees. Husbands not committed to their wives. Wives not committed to their husbands. Children not committed to their parents. Parents not committed to their children. Men and women not committed enough to each other to even get married. How does it make you feel when someone does a job for you but they were not committed enough to do a good job? How do you think Jesus feels about a lack of commitment?

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.