Happy new year! Today is the start of a new year, and we need to continue to rely on the Lord. However, after we put our reliance onto God, we need to stay committed to Him. If you rely on the Lord for a short time and then live immorally as soon as you get your way, what does that really say about your salvation? Well, the Bible has a quite clear answer to abiding in Jesus. He needs to be a commitment in your life – not a Person on which to call every once and a while.
Let your heart therefore be loyal to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and keep His commandments, as at this day. I Kings 8:61
First, only those who endure to the end will be saved. In other words, you must be committed to the Lord throughout your life if you expect your name to be in the Lamb’s book of life when you are judged. You cannot pray the sinner’s prayer, continue to live in sin, and expect to end up in heaven. It doesn’t work that way. If you expect to spend eternity with Jesus Christ our Lord, you must commit to living pure and holy in addition to having a personal relationship with Him.
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Matthew 24:12-13
Secondly, if you truly want to live holy, you must make a commitment that you are going to stop sinning right then and there. If you tell your heart, “I think I am going to not sin anymore,” you could very well fall back into iniquity. You must declare, “I am not going to sin anymore. I am going to live holy.” While that doesn’t mean you won’t slip up, you must have a holy mindset – not a wish-washy one.
Thirdly, relying on the Lord will require a commitment to trust in Him. Commit to praying and reading the Word daily. See what happens! When I set aside time to pray and read the Word of God, I feel renewed with the armor of God put on. If you commit to reliance on Him, you will find that it will be easier to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, but you will still have challenges, but hey, that’s where commitment is necessary.
For the LORD is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. Psalm 84:11-12
This year and forever, I encourage you to vow in your heart and declare out loud, “I will commit to serve the Lord forever and ever.” Remember that vow and never stray from it. When you sin, think of your commitment and repent and move on walking in God’s grace. You may have made a mistake, but the One to whom you are committed is greater than you and your slip-up. If you have a truly penitent heart, He will forgive you. Don’t forget to keep moving forward; don’t stay stuck! Always rely on God’s grace to attain victory[1] in staying faithful to your commitment to Him!
Have a great year! Happy New Year’s Day!
COMMITTING TO GOD’S GRACE AND LOVE,
Jeremiah Yonemura
[1] Theme of the year 2017
