Monday September 9
Today’s Reading-Galatians 6:1-10)
This week’s topic of commitment is personally very fitting since tomorrow is my 25th wedding anniversary. Twenty five years; a quarter of a century; a long time to be married. And in that time we’ve experienced our share of feast and famine, joys and heartaches, and love and loss. Yet no matter what life throws at us, our love and commitment to each other remains strong and unshakable.
French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre once said, “Commitment is an act, not a word.” I like that. When I think of commitment as a verb instead of a noun, it helps me to remember the important difference between determination and commitment. In my marriage my husband and I can be determined with our minds and hearts to be loyal and dedicated to each other, but is it our actions which show where our commitment truly lies.
Any successful relationship, whether it be with a spouse, a friend, a family member, or even with the Lord Himself, requires true commitment. In Galatians 6, the Apostle Paul shows us practical steps we can take to turn our words of commitment into actions of proof.
“Bear one another’s burdens”- Just as Jesus carries our load, (Matt. 11:28-29) being committed means our shoulders should be the first ones offered to those struggling, hurting, or in need of help.
“Each one must examine his own work”- Instead of being quick to judge or condemn, being committed means examining our own actions and remembering that we all fall short of God’s glory. (Matt. 6:23)
“Let us not lose heart in doing good”- When tough times come, being committed means continuing to do what is right; continuing to sow seeds of love and goodness knowing that God promises what we give will be given back to us. (Luke 6:38)
We’ve all heard the saying, “actions speak louder than words”. And when it comes to commitment, no truer words were spoken. So tomorrow as my husband and I reflect on our years together and celebrate our commitment to each other, we will also celebrate our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ whose perfect example of commitment inspires us everyday.
