“Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands” (2 Corinthians 11:22-33).
Introduction
This testimony from the pen of the apostle Paul reveals that he was a committed believer who had entrusted his entire life to the Lord Jesus Christ. What he underwent for Christ would cause many a Christian to turn heels and depart, but Paul was determined to go forward, onward and upward with the Lord despite the personal cost.
A committed Christian uses every opportunity
“I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:14-16).
Paul faced much hardship throughout his ministry, yet he saw every difficulty as an opportunity to spread the message to those who had never heard of Christ. He never submitted to the temptation to hide himself away for personal protection. “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries” (1 Corinthians 16:9). There were times when he stepped directly into Satan’s stronghold, as was the case in Ephesus where the city was given over to the occult, but instead of having fear, he preached Christ. “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed” (Acts 19:20).
A committed Christian lives a sacrificed life
“And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved” (2 Corinthians 12:15.
We live in an age when it is taught that we should pamper and look out for ourselves. In the church, the idea of a sacrificial life is lost on the majority. They think that sacrifice is going to church and giving tithes. True sacrifice is the willingness to give of ourselves for the welfare and betterment of others. This is far removed from sentimental humanitarianism, for it is motivated by divine love rather than sympathy.
Paul continued to give of himself to others despite the fact that they appeared to love him less for it. We might call this ‘unrequited’ love, for his love was not being reciprocated.
A committed Christian labours as the Lord directs
“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
God always gives the strength for the task He has called us to. As soon as we think that we are able, through talents or art, to work for the Lord, then God’s strength and power can not be displayed in us. He has called us to labour for Him within the context of human weakness. We too might get buffeted by the world and false religion, but “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Romans 8:37) if we continue to heed the voice of the Holy Spirit.
A committed Christian lives a separated life
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
This separation is in two vital areas of our Christian lives. Firstly, in our mind. “But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16), which ought to automatically set us apart from those who do not. Secondly, in our action. How can we claim that Christ has changed us if we continue to live like the world? These two areas affect everything we do, say and think, as well as the places we go and the company we keep. A believer that is not living a separated live does not have the power to live the normal Christian life.
Conclusion
How many are living an ineffective Christian life when the Lord has promised us an “abundant” one? “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). True commitment is found in the things mentioned above and is described by the apostle Paul in Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
© 27/5/2008