Have you ever had a part-time job? It might be easier to fit into your schedule and perhaps more convenient, but it does not bring all the benefits of a full-time position. Many proclaim a relationship with God, or at least desire the benefits of it, but few are willing to be 100% committed to being a full-time follower of Jesus Christ. Now, more than ever, it’s time to examine, increase, and demonstrate our commitment. 

Christ Is Certainly Committed

Commitment is about your dedication. Commitment is choosing to be faithful. Commitment means not giving up even when it’s hard and starting again if you fail. Commitment is consistently reflected in your priorities. In a relationship, for it to be a real relationship, there has to be commitment from both parties. Thankfully, Jesus has proven time and time again His commitment to us: 

1. God manifested Himself in flesh (1 Tim. 3:16; John 1:1, 14; Matt. 1:23) and came to earth to save us from our sins (Matt. 1:21). 
2. He didn’t just say He was committed; He proved it when He chose to “bare our sins in his own body on the tree” (1 Pet. 2:24; cp. Isa. 53:4-5). 
3. He proved it by shedding His innocent blood, dying for us, so we could be saved, free from sin, able to walk in relationship with Him, and live eternally (1 Tim. 1:15; Rom. 6:16-23; 1 Pet. 3:18; Eph. 2:11-13; John 3:16-18). 
4. Then, even though we didn’t deserve it, He proved it again by giving us His Word, His Spirit, and His Name so we could be born again and obtain all He died for us to have (1 Pet. 1:22-25; John 3:1-8; Titus 3:3-7; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; 1 Thess. 5:9-10).

We could speak of His love, His promises, His faithfulness, His mercy, His help, His forgiveness, His presence for the next thousand years and still not run out of endless examples and clear proof: Jesus is committed to us!

Check Your Commitment

Once we reflect on Christ’s commitment, and the fact that He died (literally) to make salvation and relationship possible, the questions then have to become personal: 

• What is my commitment to God? Where is my commitment level? 
• Is my commitment to God reflected in all of my life – school, work, home, church – and all of my interactions with others? 
• Am I committed part-time or full-time? Is my commitment evident in public and in private, naturally and spiritually, in my talk and my walk? 
• How can I be more committed? Where can I grow? What areas can I improve in?

Just as most of us are not willing to be in a part-time romantic relationship, where a significant other puts us in third place, says the right words but shows the wrong actions, and asks us to be one of many options in their life, Jesus demands commitment and requires our all.

What Does God Want?

Jesus taught us, “The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment” (Mark 12:29-30). Notice He did NOT say, love the Lord thy God with HALF of thy heart, 30% of your soul, ¾ of your mind, and what’s left of your strength. He said ALL. When we love God (Luke 10:27), seek God (Deut. 4:29), serve God (Deut. 11:13), and turn or return to God (Deut. 30:2, 10), it must be with our ALL.

In Revelation 2:1-5, even though the church of Ephesus worked, laboured, and displayed patience, God still had an issue with them because they had left their first love. Working for God by itself is not enough; He cares about the status of our heart, our love, and our relationship with Him.

Colossians 1:16-18 says, “…all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” The writer lays out (some of) Jesus’ resume but the point, the takeaway, the lesson was that in ALL things he might have the preeminence! The Greek word for preeminence (S:4409) is defined as, “to be first (in rank or influence).” In all things, with every decision and all facets of our life, Jesus should be FIRST!

Put The Word Into Action

We have to be committed to God. Commitment overrides convenience. Commitment doesn’t change when it costs you. Commitment is born out of love for someone worth it, and is not changed by circumstance. Are you all in for God? Are you a part-time or full-time Christian? This is the moment. Let’s step up our commitment. God deserves it.