Previous Week Devotional

To whom or what are you most committed? It is a daily decision to choose to live godly, but for most believers it is also a daily struggle. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world”
(Ti 2:11,12)

Other priorities have a tendency, to crowd out our devotion to the Lord, even as mature men and women of God. This is why we are reminded in scripture that Christ should have the preeminence in our life. “And he is the head of the body, the church… that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Col 1:18) When we become apathetic in daily decisions to yield our will to Christ, we allow something or someone else to take precedence in our relationship with Him. God is not satisfied with mere saints; but rather, those willing to dedicate every area of their life to the Lordship of Christ.

Scripture reveals the stalwart commitment of obedience to God, as displayed in the life of Moses, in spite of his initial reservations and doubt. All of his excuses were to no avail; for the Lord Himself would be his strength and guide to accomplish all that He commanded. (see Ex 2 – 4) At the age of forty, Moses killed an Egyptian through sheer rebellion and anger. Thus fearing for his life, he retreated to the backside of the desert. But, all of this was just the unfolding of God’s ultimate plan for his life. God used the forty years of solitude in this desert as his training ground and proceeded to instruct Moses in His ways and desires. Going from reigning in the house of Pharaoh to the isolated life as a shepherd had a drastic, but humbling affect on the life of Moses. God made several advances and revealed Himself to Moses in such a way that he would be strengthened in his commitment to the call of God upon his life.

Throughout the bible we are given numerous examples through the lives of men and women, which reveal the awesome blessing of allowing God’s hand to shape their character. Through the same degree of commitment and obedience to Jesus Christ, there is nothing that He won’t enable us to do. As a committed Christian we do not need to strive for perfection, but rely upon the Holy Spirit’s ability to enable us to obey and submit to His divine will. “..we….do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”(Col 1:9) We also need fellowship with other believers who are devoted to a Christ-honoring life and encouraging us in the Word for our own spiritual growth. Though trials and temptations will still occur, we can persevere and gain victory as we remain focused on the Lord and set our priorities based upon His word.
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Thank you Lord Jesus for Your presence and protection throughout my Christian walk. I am so grateful that I do not have to depend upon my own strength and wisdom to accomplish Your will in my life. Please continue to work in me that my conduct and speech may be pleasing unto You. Work through me that I may honor You and witness to others by Your love and mercy. May I continually desire to seek You and commit my life to Your eternal purpose that Thy will may truly be done. "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass…Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him:"(Psa 37:5,7a)