We Sing Our Commitment
When we worship by singing (Ephesians 5:19) we are also teaching each other (Colossians 3:16). By engaging in this act of worship, we are singing our commitment. Our commitment to God, to the church, and to the work. Why do we sing? Because we love the Lord and we are committed to the thing we sing. In recent weeks we have dwelt on being happy, the perfect law of the Lord, and trusting God to make things beautiful in His time. So how can we commit further? Let’s consider a few songs that we sing.
More About Jesus
“More about Jesus would I know, More of His Grace to others show, More of His saving fullness see, More of His love who died for me.”
Singing more about Jesus is an amazing song. The words are rich with reminders of how our songs, sermons, prayers, and lives could benefit from more Jesus. Can we have too much Jesus? I know I cannot. John wrote about how great Jesus was. Many other signs, therefore, did Jesus in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31). The Holy Spirit gave us enough to believe that Christ is the Son of God. We have more than enough to sing of Jesus. Let's spend each day with more Jesus, praying in His name, studying His Word, and walking in His grace. Can we commit to more Jesus?
Soldiers of Christ Arise
“Strong then in His great might with all his strength endued, but take to arm you for the fight, but take to arm you for the fight the panoply of God.”
It is important to remember that we are soldiers in a war. “For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12). You cannot casually be a soldier in any army. In Christ, you are not a national guardsman that trains one weekend a month, two weeks a year. You are on active duty. Christianity is not a passive, armchair religion. We have to be ready to fight. To do so, we must be adequately equipped. We need to take on the panoply of God. What is the panoply? It is from the Greek word panoplia or whole armor of God. Paul wrote, “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). This armor helps us to be adequately equipped as soldiers in the Lord’s army.
Christ committed the greatest act of love that this world has ever known. He committed His life, His blood to redeem mankind. He did it while we were walking contrary to Him. Can we commit each day to look for more Jesus in all we do? What is my study teaching me about Our Lord? In what ways can I emulate His grace? Can we commit each day to go into the battle fully equipped? We can if we trust him and continually seek Jesus. It starts on the first day of the week. Have you put Christ as your top priority on the Lord’s Day? Have you prepared your heart to worship? Are you more equipped with the full armor after Bible study and worshiping the Lord? I certainly hope so. I know you want to be more committed. We can do it with God’s help together.
Grace and Peace,
R.D. Beavers
