Examining Our Commitment To God
How often do you examine your commitment to God? Are you making Christ known in everything you do? Steph Nickel encourages us to not only ask ourselves hard questions about our commitment to God, but to also teach our children to do the same.
One Of You Will Betray Me
Matthew 26:20-23 says,
“When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. And as they were eating, he said, ‘Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.’ And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, ‘Is it I, Lord?’ He answered, ‘He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me.’”
I can’t begin to imagine it. Can you? Sitting down to eat your final meal with a man who had traveled with you for over three years; a man who had heard your teaching and witnessed miracles you’d performed; a man you knew would betray you.
When I was writing this devotional, another fact struck me: Judas was among the twelve men Jesus sent out to accomplish amazing things in His name. Luke 9:1-2 says,
“And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.”
Is It I, Lord?
Judas not only saw Jesus cast out demons, heal the sick, and proclaim God’s kingdom, he actually did these things himself. And yet, the lure of thirty pieces of silver was enough to entice him to betray the Master. This is truly mind-boggling.
Before we’re too quick to declare, “Oh, I’d never do that,” we have to look at how the other eleven disciples responded to Jesus’ words. He said,
“Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”
Their knee-jerk reaction wasn’t to point fingers at Judas. Obviously, he didn’t stand out as the most likely candidate. Instead they asked, “Is it I, Lord?”
Examining Our Commitment to God
Am I willing to ask myself hard questions? Are you? And are we willing to teach our children to examine their level of commitment to the Saviour?
Do we keep busy earning a living, giving little thought to how we can make Christ known? It isn’t wrong to work hard and provide for our family. In fact, it is a very good thing. But while we are diligently doing the best job we can, are we looking for ways to share the gospel?
We must keep in mind that Judas loved money. Even before he took the thirty pieces of silver for betraying Jesus, as keeper of the moneybag, he used to help himself to what was meant for the ministry. Here is another way this man can serve as a warning to us.
And what about our day-to-day interactions—at work and elsewhere? Does it come naturally for us to include matters of faith in conversation? It doesn’t have to be forced, but it stands to reason that the Lord will enter our conversation more frequently the better we get to know Him and His Word.
When we feel cornered, what is our first response? Do we become argumentative or defensive? Do we simply shut down and refuse to respond? Do we go so far as to question what we believe?
Offend God Or Offend People?
For thousands of people, millions even, declaring their faith can lead to dire consequences, even the loss of life. And yet, where persecution rages, the gospel spreads. Those who put their faith in Christ do so only after they have counted the cost.
However, for many of us, we back away simply because another person may make fun of us, mock us, or call us names. They may do so to our face or on social media. “And after all,” we think, “they must know at least the basics of the gospel and they’ve chosen not to believe. So what can I do?“
These concerns and others like them trouble us even more when those we may offend are family members and friends. My mom used to say, “If I have to choose to offend God or people, I choose people.” She was a wise woman.
Be On Guard
There is a right time and place to speak up, but we must evaluate our default response. Do we expend more effort seeking to share the gospel or making excuses not to? This is a question I must begin asking myself more often.
I have found that most people who see things differently than I do are willing to engage in conversation if I present my views respectfully, but I still have to take a deep breath and quieten my mind and heart before I do so.
No matter how many times we do share the gospel and enter into discussions of faith, we must be on guard. We must learn from Judas and ask ourselves if we’re preoccupied with money and material possessions, if we spend too much time seeking to accumulate more and more.
We must also be careful not to rest on past spiritual victories. Remember, as far as we can tell, Judas performed miracles in Jesus’ name. We must examine our lives regularly to see if our level of commitment is as it should be.
And if we’re not living as the Word teaches us we should, our first response should be to pray and ask God to be at work within us. The good news is that if our behaviour troubles us, it is a good indication that He is already at work.
Do you struggle with your commitment to God? We would love to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.
Steph Nickel
Steph Beth Nickel is eclectically interested and eclectically involved. In all she does, Steph seeks to nurture and inspire. She is currently working on the first book in a nonfiction series. Nurture and Inspire LOVE is a compilation of the first devotionals she wrote for HopeStreamRadio.
Steph is a freelance writer and editor. She is the coauthor of Paralympian Deb Willows’ award-winning memoir, Living Beyond My Circumstances, published by Castle Quay Books. Deb and Steph are working on a follow-up book.
You can visit her website, stephbethnickel.com, to learn more about her.
Visit Steph’s contributor’s page or at Steph Nickel’s Eclectic Interests.
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