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Post by brianwagner on Jan 15, 2015 17:30:16 GMT -6
The number of committed Christians in the U.S. is dwindling, and I believe perhaps it is because the commitments laid out in NT commands are not laid out before professing believers often enough.
Ok - Here is a blueprint that probably could use some refining! Maybe there is some better wording, or reordering, or better verses or some others to be added. Let me know what you suggest.
10 Life Commitments to become a successful servant of Christ
1. Salvation – I will only trust in Jesus to save me from my sins! Acts 16:31
2. Dedication – I will give my body to Jesus to serve Him in everything! Romans 12:1
3. Devotion – I will meet with Jesus daily in His word and prayer! Luke 9:23
4. Discipleship – I will submit to elders who will lead me in following Jesus! Hebrews 13:17
5. Service – I will use my spiritual gift to build up other followers of Jesus! 1Peter 4:10
6. Giving – I will prayerfully make habits of giving in Jesus’ name! 2Corinthians 9:7
7. Witnessing – I will prayerfully develop habits of witnessing for Jesus! 1Peter 3:18
8. Forgiving – I will not hold anything against anyone for Jesus sake! Mark 11:25
9. Honoring Marriage – I will honor marriage to please Jesus and avoid anything that dishonors it! Ephesians 5:33, 1Thessalonians 4:3
10. Worship – I will regularly sing and pray with other believers to worship Jesus! Colossians 3:16
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Post by CowboysDad on Jan 15, 2015 22:51:48 GMT -6
Well done, Brian. I like that a lot. All should be saved, dedicated, devoted, discipled, serve, give, witness, forgive and worship at any age, but not all are married. Rather than "honoring marriage" I thought perhaps "purity" or "purity in relationships' or something similar might be more inclusive to those who are not old enough to marry, have chosen not to marry or are on the other side of marriage. Great list! Thanks for the post!
- Daniel
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Post by brianwagner on Jan 16, 2015 6:40:59 GMT -6
Great point Daniel! How about if I reword it this way, "I will, whether single or married, honor marriage to...."? I wanted this commitment to help connect the concern for moral purity in all relationships directly to the sanctity of marriage, since sex was created only for marriage. All impurity in relationships (premarital sex, homosexual sex, pornography, adultery, etc.), I believe, dishonors the testimony of what marriage should be and dishonors the testimony that marriage points to, in the relationship between God and His people.
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Post by CowboysDad on Jan 17, 2015 0:03:32 GMT -6
It's hard to go wrong with any version that you settle on, but I still find myself wrestling a bit with the wording in order to avoid any notion that marriage is more center stage than singleness for the believer. Here's a working idea or two: "I will pursue a chaste lifestyle if single or likewise seek a God-honoring testimony of moral purity in marriage as God alone has prescribed it." Or perhaps, "I will pursue a chaste lifestyle if single or likewise seek a God-honoring testimony of moral purity in marriage in order to please Jesus."
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