I have to start off by asking this question: would God be able to recognize you from any other person? Would God be able to say without a shadow of a doubt that you were one of his own?

What is your commitment to Christianity? Would you ask someone to watch their language, if they were offensive? Would you stand up for a cause that was different than the worldview? Would you go as far as dying for a family member, friend or Christ? All hard questions. And there should be only one answer if you’re a Christian…YES.

But those three little letters are tough to say when faced with situations as those just mentioned. But Jesus never told us it would be easy. He warned us of the hardships we would meet.  

Matthew 10:16-24 — “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 “But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; 18 and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 “But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. 20 “For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. 21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 “You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. 23 “But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.”

I can honestly say I am not incredibly excited about being “hated,” much less put to death. But the more I grow in my walk with God, the more I learn to “let go and let God.” My commitment changes daily. So should yours. As we grow and understand the will God has set for our lives, we will start to live more and more for God and less and less for ourselves. This makes our commitment to Christ all the more powerful. 

Don’t let Jesus come back and question which side of the fence you are on. Devote yourself to Him and only Him. Below is an excellent reminder of what our commitment should look like. 

My Commitment As A Christian 

The following was written by a young African pastor and tacked on the wall of his house:

“My Commitment As A Christian”

“I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

“My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals. 

“I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power. 

“My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, and my companions few, my guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, or ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. 

“I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problems recognizing me – my banner will be clear!”

Author: Jody Burkeen