New Commitments

Let’s start with defining the word, commitment.
1. dedication to a cause or principle
2. an obligation, responsibility, or promise that restricts freedom of action
3. the act of committing or state of being committed

So we have an obligation, responsibility and promise to God that restricts OUR freedom of action. REALLY…why??? It could be because He gave His only son for us. Jesus had such a commitment to His father, our God that His last words spoke on just that, His commitment.

Luke 23:32-46 (The Message)
32Two others, both criminals, were taken along with him for execution.
33When they got to the place called Skull Hill, they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right, the other on his left.
34-35Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them; they don't know what they're doing."
Dividing up his clothes, they threw dice for them. The people stood there staring at Jesus, and the ringleaders made faces, taunting, "He saved others. Let's see him save himself! The Messiah of God—ha! The Chosen—ha!"
36-37The soldiers also came up and poked fun at him, making a game of it. They toasted him with sour wine: "So you're King of the Jews! Save yourself!"
38Printed over him was a sign: this is the king of the jews.
39One of the criminals hanging alongside cursed him: "Some Messiah you are! Save yourself! Save us!"
40-41But the other one made him shut up: "Have you no fear of God? You're getting the same as him. We deserve this, but not him—he did nothing to deserve this."
42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom." 43He said, "Don't worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise."
44-46By now it was noon. The whole earth became dark, the darkness lasting three hours—a total blackout. The Temple curtain split right down the middle. Jesus called loudly, "Father, I place my life in your hands!" Then he breathed his last.
What a way to die…He was mocked, beaten and crucified by the world He was sent to save. But still He has compassion for the prisoners who are going to be crucified beside Him. He ends His life with these words from the NIV, “Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit.”

To be more like Jesus, we need to breathe our last and place our lives in God’s hands and commit our spirits to Him. We need to choose which master to serve, the prince of the world or the king of the world. I choose the king.
These are a few ways I plan to serve Him.

Psalm 37:3-7 (The Message)
3-4 Get insurance with GOD and do a good deed,
settle down and stick to your last.
Keep company with GOD,
get in on the best.

5-6 Open up before GOD, keep nothing back;
he'll do whatever needs to be done:
He'll validate your life in the clear light of day
and stamp you with approval at high noon.

7 Quiet down before GOD,
be prayerful before him.
Don't bother with those who climb the ladder,
who elbow their way to the top.

But how does all this relate to our journey to good health? We have to make a commitment to God and to ourselves. We have to put God first in all our decisions. He wants us to be healthy.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is within you, whom was given to you by God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Isaiah 55:2
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

So let’s honor God with our bodies. Let’s find the energy to do charity runs, let’s have a quiet time with Him once a day, let’s exercise for at least 30 minutes daily, let’s eat what is good and satisfying.

I would like to tell you my commitment to this group.

1. I will put God first.
2. I will teach this class for at least one year.
3. I will have a daily quiet time with God which will include; Bible study, prayer and Bible verse memorization.
4. I will complete my live-it tracker weekly. I will check those of the group’s.
5. I will record weights of group members at the start of each class.
6. I will memorize my Bible verse and listen to the memorization of those in the class.
7. I will exercise 30 minutes daily.

And although, I am committing for one year, I am not concerned.

Matthew 6:34 (The Message)
34"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

In committing to these things, I look to our memory verse for strength.

Proverbs 13:6
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and all your plans will succeed.


John 16:16-33
16 “In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.”
17 Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’? 18 And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.”
19 Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. 20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. 21 It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. 22 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. 23 At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. 24 You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
25 “I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father. 26 Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, 27 for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God.[a] 28 Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father.”
29 Then his disciples said, “At last you are speaking plainly and not figuratively. 30 Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.”
31 Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? 32 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

So even though it will be hard and we will have many trials and sorrow, we can commit to God and our plans will be successful…even our plans to lose weight and be healthy. So take the time now to write down your commitments to this class and sign it. Keep some place visible.

Let us pray.
Dear God,
We come to you today with new commitments to you, Lord, and to this class. We want to be healthy so that we can have more energy to spend serving you. We want to honor you with our bodies. Please allow us to feel your presence when we are tempted, Lord. Help us to remember our commitments. Give our plans success. We love you and we want to serve your son, the King of the World.
Thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit to guide us in all that we do. Thank you for the promise of your kingdom. Thank you for a way out when we are tempted. Thank you for Jesus’ commitment to you. Thank you for the joy that will make us forget our trials and sorrows. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Amen


I leave you with these words from Romans 15:13 (New Living Translation);
13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.