Deeply Committed
I can give multiple examples of commitment over the years. I have had many deep friendships that are still alive today. There are some relationships where I haven’t seen the person in many years, but we pick up right where we left off and then catch up with the life in between. With Facebook and other social media, we can keep track of our friends.
When I think of deeply committed, I’m reminded of my marriage vow. I am deeply committed to my wife. She knows all about me. She’s my closest friend and confidant. She’s my counselor at times too. I’m deeply committed to my children and their families too. I am deeply committed to caring for my parents in the sunset years of their lives too. Many of these commitments are costly but the rewards are rich and far-reaching.
I read the beginning of Ruth’s story this morning. She was deeply committed to her mother-in-law, even though she was from another country. Naomi realized what these two young Moabite women were giving up. She begs them to go back to their families and start a new life since their husbands had passed. This story of deep commitment has been shared at weddings for years, because of the deep level of love and commitment. Check this out….
16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.17 Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” 18 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more. (Ruth 1:16-18 NLT)
Commitment is a deep and an abiding promise.
Commitment is profound love.
Commitment is consistent.
Commitment is a calling from the Lord.
I believe the Lord loves it when my commitment to Him drives my commitment to others. He is committed to loving deeply. He is committed to forgiveness and grace.
Some of the deep commitments that I made years ago are starting to bless me as I get older. People who have shown deep commitments are earning deep respect. Their word and their promises have deep meaning. I still have lots of room to grown in the area of deep commitment. The Lord keeps working on my heart and expanding my “commitment ability”.
Pressing On!
Dwayne