Keep Your Commitment to Him - February 18

Read Hebrews 10:23, 35-39

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful…Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but the righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

Reflect

What commitments have you had throughout your life? Have you kept your commitments? Have you committed yourself to Christ?

I have made commitments to a lot of things over the years. I began reciting the Pledge of Allegiance when I was just a kindergartner and I remain devoted to my country.

I accepted jobs and people counted on me to show up for work when I was supposed to.

I have made many different commitments over the years and have certainly made my family a priority, but none of those things have my primary allegiance: Jesus. Though it has been an imperfect walk with the Lord, I have never walked away from Him. It is my heart’s deepest desire to remain steadfastly devoted to the Lord for all of my life and hear the Lord say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Mathew 25:21).

In today’s verses, the author of Hebrews urged readers to remain faithful to the hope in Christ that they had confessed. Why could they confidently cling to faith in Him? Because He is faithful. God is trustworthy and not one His promises have ever failed (Joshua 23:14).  Because of His steadfast faithfulness towards us, He is deserving of our complete devotion. God alone deserves to have our primary allegiance.

But this world is hard. Troubles, trials, and tribulations will come. Doubts may creep in. The author of Hebrews exhorts us “do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward” (v. 35). When we find ourselves wavering in our faith, reminding ourselves of His faithfulness to us will strengthen our faithfulness towards Him. He is perfectly steadfast. He never changes (Hebrews 13:8). When persecution comes and our allegiance to Christ comes at a great cost, we won’t shrink back because we’ll know that our trust is well-placed. He makes good on His promises and He has promised a reward for His faithful followers that far outweighs the troubles of this world.

Paul reminded us to keep the faith in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light and momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

Our faith is the faithfulness of God and once we place our trust in Him, we receive the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 lists faithfulness as one of the fruit of the Spirit. If we walk in the power of the Spirit, faithfulness, as He is faithful, will be produced in us. So, hold fast to your faith. Don’t waver. Don’t throw away your confidence and don’t shrink back in fear. Keep your commitment to Him. Live by faith, for He who promised is faithful.

Respond

God, I want to be steady and faithful to You all of my days. But I need Your help. Make me faithful as You are faithful. Help me to steadfastly keep my commitment to You. Amen.

Reveal

Do you know a believer that could use reminders of God’s promises? Remind them of the promises of God and urge them to hold fast to their faith in Christ.