June 26 Devotion: The Importance of Commitment

Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

         There is going to be a battle until the day that the Lord takes his children home in the rapture. We will face opposition, there is a great need to wear the “whole armour of God”, and we will be engaged in spiritual warfare until that day. This is a given fact, and we must be prepared by being yielded to the Lord in all things. This last statement is the basis for this devotional thought today. We must be yielded to the Lord in all things.

         Notice in Ephesians 6:13 the phrase “having done all”. This speaks of a commitment to the Lord and to his ways. It is a submission to his will and a walk of faith that relies completely on his guidance. To do any less is to insert our fleshly opinions into the mix. Jesus was clear when he said in John 15:5 that “without me ye can do nothing.” We should take that as a cut and dry (black and white) statement. There is not a gray area. There is nothing that we can improve upon by adding our opinions to God’s way. To do all is to relinquish control and live with Jesus as Lord. To do all is to never compromise God’s principles thinking that somehow a mixture is better than purity. It holds nothing back in reserve. To do all is to be uncompromisingly committed to the Lord.

         “Having done all” is a boldness and confidence that is rooted in faith in Christ. It bucks the trends and sticks out as a witness of submission to the Lord. It makes no apology for representing our Savior in a world of rebellion and rejection. (We should remember that we are “strangers and pilgrims” [1 Peter 2:11] in this world.) “Having done all” is the right and respectful stance even if no one seems to listen or care. It is always right to do right no matter what. God deserves no less than for us to lay our lives before him and declare, “what wilt thou have me to do”. (Acts 9:6) “Having done all” is always sure that the attention is directed at the Lord for we are nothing more than messenger boys. “Having done all” is the least we can do. He gave us his all and he deserves our all every day, all day. We should take time to examine ourselves to see what level of commitment we have. Please ponder the following verses as a measuring stick.

Romans 12:1-3

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

In Christ’s Service,

Bro. Adrian Moore

2 Cor. 4:5