Fully Committed?

Brendan McNeal is a sinner saved by God’s amazing grace, trying to live his life glorifying God, but failing miserably more times than he would like to admit. 

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

                                                                                                                              Mark 12:28-30

We have all probably heard this verse at some point or another, whether we read it in the Gospels or hear it in the song by Lincoln Brewster. However, how many of us think about what that really means and if we are living up to that commandment? We are all sinners and we all fall short of the glory of God. There is no debating that. However, there is debating whether we are doing our part to completely be devoted to following Jesus Christ and to love God with everything we have, doing the best we can to obey Him. Are we continually practicing our religion, living out what God calls us to do? Or do we call ourselves “Christians” and go to church or chapel on Sunday, and never think about God the rest of the week, being “Lukewarm*?”

We need to take the time to evaluate where our hearts lie and if we truly are living what God commands us—to love Him with everything we have. Here are things to think about, whether we are really showing that we love God and are fully committed to Him:

Are our actions glorifying God and pleasing to Him? We call ourselves Christians, but we get drunk on Saturday, knowing God will forgive us on Sunday. We belittle others who are different. Our language is not pure. Is this showing love to God?

How are we spending most of our time, and what are we putting ahead of God? Playing sports, playing in the band, singing in the choir, playing video games, watching TV or even studying, is useless if we are not doing it with the intent of doing for God.

What are we exposing ourselves to? Is it glorifying God? The music we listen to, is it clean, something God would be proud of? The shows and movies we watch, are they really something that we should be watching?

Are we reading the Word on a regular basis? Not only reading, but living out the Word. Telling everyone that we can about the Good News! Sharing God’s love with others.

Is this how we would treat other people who we love?  If we truly love God and are committed to following Him, we need to take inventory of our lives and see if God is the center of everything that we do and if what we are doing is really showing love. 

*Crazy Love by Francis Chan