Monday, June 8th, 2009 "Are You Committed?"

Tsunami Devotional by Steve Keaton

Monday, June 8^th, 2009
Title: Are You Committed?
Text: Revelation 3:15-16 (NIV)
¹⁵I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

A couple of days ago while watching the news I noticed that President Obama was making his way to France to meet with the French president while on a tour through the Middle East and Europe. While in France the president and his family took in some of the sites. They visited the Cathedral at Notre Dame, the Champs Elysees and the Eiffel Tower. These are most of the regular tourist attractions that thousands of people take in each year. However, after those visits were done, President Obama took another journey and found himself on the beaches of Normandy. He wasn’t there for some fun in the sun. Instead the visit was in recognition of the 65^th anniversary of the first day of the D-Day invasion that took place on June 6^th, 1944. On that day 160,000 United States, British and Canadian servicemen stormed the beaches from water and air in an attempt to break through the German Army stronghold and totally change the momentum of World War 2. Thousands and thousands of young men put their fears aside and committed themselves, and their lives, to running side by side with each other to do something that would change history forever. It worked and shortly after this event took place the war came to an end.

As I think about the events that took place that day, I am inspired by the courage and commitment of these people. I am sure while growing up they never imagined that they would face such an event. I feel certain that they had no real desire run headlong into such an environment where many of their friends would not survive and the chances of their survival was so slim. Yet, they fully embraced the understanding that what was to take place was bigger than them and that without their willingness to do what needed to be done, the lives of millions of innocent people around the world would continue to be threatened. I thank God for those people and what day did for each of us on June 6^th, 1944.

Commitment is a weird word. It is easy to say we are committed to something, but when push comes to shove are we really willing to walk the walk? Think about it. What are you committed to? Sports, school, family, friends, your faith? Are you really committed to those things? Let’s look at our faith. I know that I find it much easier to stand firm in my faith and talk about being a true and authentic follower of Christ when I am in the comfortable surroundings of other Christians, but when I am away from those safety zones am I equally as willing to allow the light to shine bright for a lost and judgmental world to see? Am I willing to be fully committed to my savior who is fully committed to me? I mean, the example of commitment shown by Jesus was white-hot. No second guessing, no time to ponder whether or not he had something better to do and certainly not lukewarm.

Friends, it is simple. Christ requires a commitment from those who say they love him. That level of commitment is a full commitment. We are either with him or against him. We are either shining brightly for Christ or we have flipped the switch to off. So the question is, “are you committed to Jesus?” Are you willing to walk the walk and not just talk the talk? That’s a question only you can answer. Just know that Jesus desires your all. I think that’s the least we could give him. Don’t you?

Something to Think About:

· What are you committed to?

· Where does your faith fall on the list of commitments?

· Are you willing to be committed even through the face of opposition?

· What strength can you gain through the example of commitment shown by the thousands of soldiers who stormed the beaches of Normandy in 1944?

· Can those who stand beside you today count of you being committed?

A Few Minutes with God:

God, I thank you for those who have gone before me and the example of being fully committed they have set for me and for many others. I pray that you will burn in my soul so passionately that I will be willing to be fully committed to you and to the faith that I confess to have. I love you and I know that is true. Please give me your strength to enable that love to be evident to all I encounter and make a difference in a world that is such need of your love and grace. Amen.