Confident Commitment 

By: Keith McNeely

            Paul said “for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12). This passage brings us to our topic quickly, that of being confidently committed to Christ. Christian confidence involves assurance, while commitment is deals with our level of devotion, to Christ and the Christian life.

            The endurance of commitment. The Lord, while speaking in a vision to Ananias, said he would show Saul (later to be called Paul) of the “great things he must suffer” for Christ’s sake.  Further, Paul later urged Timothy to be a “partaker of the afflictions of the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:8). Jesus advised “He that is not with me is against me” (Matthew 12:30). Thus, we can quickly determine that since the Christian life is indeed a challenging life it takes an endurance of commitment.

            The excellence of commitment.  Paul not only endeavored to live the life of excellence that the Gospel calls us to, but he often would write that others endeavor to live up to its high calling. Notice he admonished the Philippians “this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more...That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.” (Philippians 1:9-10). Paul urged an excellence of Christian commitment.

            The eternal aspect of commitment. Paul discusses the commitment he made to Christ indicating that his commitment had an eye toward eternity.  The apostle continues confidently affirming that Christ was able to “keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12).  Paul obviously made his commitment with intentions of standing fast unto the end of his life here on earth.  He steadfastly said “there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness” which the Lord shall “give me at that day”.

            Christian, the life you have chosen to live takes commitment.

2 Different Types of Attitudes

            How important is it that Christians have the right attitude? Attitude greatly affects one’s relationship with God. A proper attitude is demonstrated through proper obedience and service to God. Examine the following attitudes and see which ones you possess:

Ø  It will not work. If it is scriptural, it does work – if we will use ourselves in God’s vineyard. There is no stronger positive plan than God’s plan. Those who try to belittle God’s ways of doing things belittle God (Colossians 3:17).

Ø  We tried that before. If it is scriptural, keep trying. Just because something has been tried once or twice does not mean the plan fails, it means we have not worked the plan diligently.

Ø  It cannot be done. This is brother or sister pessimist! They can give five to ten excuses that tend to discourage and hold back the Lord’s work. With God on our side it can and will be done (Romans 8:31; Phil. 4:13)

Ø  Let us do it later. How this must please old Satan. If we put spiritual matters off long enough, the devil knows we will have eternity to spend with him! (Prov. 27:1; Mat. 25:46)

Ø  You do it. This is the attitude of brother/sister scapegoat. He tries to “pass the buck.” He does his/her best to push off his/her responsibility onto someone else (Gen. 2 – Eve tried this!)

Ø  I will do what I can. This attitude is expressed and demonstrated by Christians who are willing to use their talents. They gladly do what they can when they can (1 Cor. 15:58).

Ø  I have faith we can do it. That is great! This rubs off on others and causes others to see that their faith can grow also. After all, diligent faith pleases God (Hebrews 11:6).

Ø  I want to help. How God must love to hear this positive attitude expressed. Wanting to serve God is the key foundation to rendering proper service.

Ø  It will be all right. This attitude means those who believe this pray and labor to see that things do work out to God’s glory. How we need more brethren that think this way (1 Thess. 1:2-3).

Ø  We will be successful. Brethren who feel this way will not allow the devil, trials, or heartaches to stop them. They will (with God’s help) press onward and upward (Phil. 3:13-14).

            Which attitudes do you express by your mouth and influence? May God help us to remove negative thinking from our lives. May we be more involved – more dedicated, because after all we do not want to possess any attitude that would hinder the work and worship of the Lord’s church.

Author Unknown

Church Attendance

By: Dub McClish 

There is surely more to being faithful to the Lord of heaven and earth than “church attendance,” but can one be faithful to him without it? Is it necessary (to please God, to grow spiritually, to be saved) for one to assemble faithfully with the saints? If the New Testament teaches anything, it answers “yes”! We are obviously not speaking of the sick and shut-ins and others who are hindered beyond their control, but those who are able to come. We aren’t merely asking if the preacher or elders care, but does God care. Consider the following.

            Lord’s Day assembly. Saints are commanded to partake of the Lord’s Supper to remember Christ (1 Corinthians 11:24). The apostolic example (Acts 20:7) and uninspired early church history confirm that the church ate the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week. To provide the money needed to do the work of the church, the saints were commanded to give of their money every first day of the week (1 Corinthians 6:1, 2). These things were to be done “everywhere in every church” (1 Corinthians 4:17); to willfully miss the Lord’s Day assembly is to disregard these commands.

            Other assemblies. What about Sunday evening, Sunday morning Bible school or Wednesday night? Are such meetings scriptural or unscriptural? Various meetings besides Sunday were held in the early church with apostolic approval (Acts 2:46; 4:23; 12:12 etc). It is certain that such additional meetings for study, worship and fellowship (gospel meetings series, vacations bible schools, etc.) greatly strengthen ones who attend them and do untold good.

            A direct command. As clearly as the New Testament teaches not to commit adultery, not to steal or not to murder, it teaches “not forsaking our own assembling together” (Hebrews 10:25). To forsake is not the same as merely being absent. The sick man will be absent without forsaking the assembly if he would have been there except for sickness. To forsake is to abandon for something deemed more important. It is mere speculation to limit this command only to the Lord’s Day assembly. Whenever there is a meeting of the saints at which we could be exhorted to pure living, we ought to be there, moreover, we ought to want to be there.

            Miscellaneous principles. Lovers of God have always cherished worship and study opportunities (Psalm 42:1-4; 84:1, 2, 10; Matthew 5:6). Can one “seek first the kingdom” while forsaking the assemblies? (Matthew 6:33). Does God care where we are when the saints meet?

Absent Too Many Times: The boss called me in, looked me squarely in the eye and said, “you are not interested in working for me, you don’t really want this job, do you?” “Oh, yes sir, I need the job. It is very important to me and my family.” But one thing and another interfered and I missed some more. Finally, the boss called me in and he said, “You’re fired!! You were absent once too often. I walked out of…..into HELL. You see, my boss has been God. I had been employed as a Christian. Absences were from the worship and work of the church. God was right – I hadn’t really wanted the job. I didn’t really want to go to Heaven. SO I DIDN’T.