C o M p R o M i S o

This day, I attended the second day of the Sunog Mindanao 2: G-12 Conference. The night during the Conference, a Spanish Pastor lectured us about a very powerful message that really, really moved me. I believe he was a really great speaker. In the conference today, a lot of pastors gave their testimonies about their life experiences of the works of God in them. These were really great testimonies. They are very true. All meant one thing, and that is when you have God in you and you believe, your life will change. You will be living a life full of God’s blessings, love, and His providence. When you work for God, you will be rewarded, REALLY REWARDED. “All Sacrifices for the Lord has a reward.” However, there is one thing you have to do to have a PROSPEROUS and BETTER life. That thing was lectured to us by the Spanish speaker.

What is it?

Compromiso. In English, it is COMMITMENT. Commitment to Christ.

I will share some of the things that were shared to us during the lecture out of the notes that I had gathered. These are not my words, but the words of the Spanish Pastor who is speaking through Christ in Him.

Everybody wants success and a better life, but to have them you have to have commitment. Nothing can be achieved without commitment. It is staying ‘til the end.

It is not by luck or talent that someone has achieved something great in life. It is Commitment; and GOD IS A GOD OF COMMITMENT (Deuteronomy 7:9 says, “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep His commands”). Jesus gave His life out of commitment. He didn’t give just a part of Him, but He gave HIS WHOLE LIFE. When it comes to commitment, it’s either you’re all the way or you not. It’s either you’re inside you’re house or you’re out. In commitment, it is about giving your all, the whole part of you. Giving only a part will not work.

Commitment functions in all of us. It functions in our life, our dreams, our goals, our needs, EVERYTHING!

Commitment is to grow without ceasing, persevering. The purpose of our Christian Life is to grow, to multiply! “Go Forth and Multiply!” when you stop growing, you stop being a leader. Nothing will happen. Nothing will change. We must grow everyday. Without growth, we fail. If we won’t commit to our growth, we will fail. Christian Life is NOT associated with Failure. Jesus committed His Whole Life to give us salvation, He succeeded; He was and is still victorious. It is Jesus’ nature to be VICTORIOUS. John 14: 12 says, “ I tell you the Truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father”. When you have Christ, in committing to him, you will to do the same thing He has done, even greater! (Isn’t it great?!)

The two aspects of Commitment is that it gives strength and it gives direction. You will be able to do it because God is with you. You are born for a purpose.

Commitment is tested everyday. Job 23:10 says, “ But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” It takes Discipline. Discipline is in line with the word Disciple. Disciple means Discipline in Commitment.

The Greatest Challenge in Commitment is Failure. When discouraged, Commitment makes you rise up. Having to be committed to the Lord requires you to only be discouraged for one hour, Then RISE UP! GET UP! DEPEND ON GOD! PUT YOUR STRENGTH ON YOUR COMMITMENT!

When the question “Can I reach that Goal?” comes into your mind, do now worry. God says, “Have Strength in Me.” It takes determination. Its either you Do it or you Do it. James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

Isaiah 60:18 “No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.”

You have to make a decision. Just like the decision that was made by one of the two thieves who were crucuified along with Christ in Golgotha. The other asked Christ for forgiveness, while the other did not. (the Pastor even joked about it saying, “That one was a good thief because he stole Salvation at the last minute” – haha)

A person in the Bible who gave her commitment to Christ was Ruth. Because of that God rewarded her. Check on Matthew 1:5, notice that she is the only woman whose name is stated out of all the men in the genealogy of the Christ. Amazing, isn’t it?

Remember this: When you serve God, when you commit yourself to Him, You are not paying the price; You are ENJOYING LIFE.

Without Commitment, you will gain no reward, no privileges. You don’t gain anything. God gives the best to those who commit to Him. He wants us to believe. God will SURPRISE YOU because of your Commitment. When you Commit to God, serve Him, He puts everything you need, the people, the money, etc, and whatever you like. GOD CAN DO IT.

COMMITMENT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. When you strive for something you want, commit to God. Commitment is an everyday struggle. Even if you have or don’t have the desire, DO IT ANYWAY. Even if you do not want it, you don’t feel like it, or you are tired or scared to do it, DO IT ANYWAY!

PAY THE PRICE AND COMMIT. You will see the difference. Sometimes there are fears, but despite that, keep advancing! Discipline. What you don’t conquer will Conquer you. It is better to suffer now and live the rest of my life as a Champion. There is a generation that we need to reach. If we don’t, the next generation will be more difficult.

The Pastor said, “We Christians are crazy! We are Weird! Freaks! Jesus-Freaks! Why? Because we sleep late because of helping people; We pray for people who we don’t even know; We want to win a Nation, and other stuff!” (Hahaha! It’s crazy, right? It was just a joke though. But all these are because of our commitment to God)

Another example about Commitment is about a famous Athlete whose name we all know. His name is Michael Jordan. A basketball player said that when he saw MJ He is just a basketball player like the rest of them. He does the things basketball players do, same skills, same dribbling, shooting, and whatever. But there is only one difference. It is MJ’s commitment. Every training, Michael is always the one who comes in first and goes out last. It started when he had this determination to give his mom a house. He wanted to be the best player in the world. And look where it has brought him. Almost everybody in this world knows the name of Michael Jackson. (Amazing! Praise God!)

* * * * * * * * *

This Message has greatly moved me. This gave me the determination to commit and do what I am made for to serve the Lord. Even if it isn’t my desire, even if I am scared, or even if I am lazy or tired to do it, I WILL FORCE MYSELF TO DO IT. It is for the Lord. Besides, our sacrifices, the price that we paid would not go to waste. God will reward me and all those who commit to Him. This is because He loves us. As we are committed to Him, He is MORE committed and MORE faithful to us than we are to Him. I will continue to struggle for the Lord for I am not alone. HE IS WITH ME, as well as with all you. He is with us in every situation and in every moment of our lives. Let’s commit. I am sure I will, not only for the rewards He will be giving me, but because He is my Lord and My Savior. He is committed to me. He gave His Whole Life for me out of His Faithfulness and Love. Does He not deserve my commitment? YES, He DOES! He DESERVES IT VERY MUCH.

What about you? You who is reading my blog, right now, Christian or not? Don’t you want to have a better life?
COMMIT TO GOD