A Serious Commitment

BY VARIOUS TERMS the Bible teaches that there are two classes of Christians: those who “abide in Christ,” and those who “abide not”; those who are “walking in the light,” and those who “walk in darkness”; those who “walk by the Spirit,” and those who “walk as men”; those who “walk in newness of life,” and those who “walk after the flesh”; those who have the Spirit “in” and “upon” them, and those who have the Spirit “in” them; those who are “spiritual” and those who are “carnal”; those who are “filled with the Spirit,” and those who are not. All this has to do with the quality of daily life of saved people, and is in no way a contrast between the saved and the unsaved. Where there is such emphasis in the Bible as is indicated by these distinctions there is a corresponding reality. There is, then, a possibility of a great transition for those who are carnal into the reality of true spiritual living. The revelation concerning this possible transition, with all of its experiences and blessings, is taken seriously only by serious believers who are faithfully seeking a God-honoring daily life. To such thee is a boundless joy and consolation in this gospel of deliverance, power and victory. He That is Spiritual, L. S. Chafer (Chapter Three).

In the next few days, many will make a New Year’s resolution. Some will seek to lose weight, eat healthier, get their blood pressure down, spend more time with their family, and maybe do something wonderful they had never considered this next year. The final word in this statement is resolution. Resolution is defined as: a firm decision to do or not to do something. The problem with most resolutions is that they nothing more than fleeting thoughts which don’t hold over time. Did you read the first underlined word of the definition? It is firm. Firm means: having a solid, almost unyielding surface or structure; strongly felt and unlikely to change. So what does that mean about your resolution this year? Is it solid, unyielding, or unlikely to change?

When it comes to walking in the Spirit, there is no difference here either. If this is a resolution you might consider this year, remember there is a corresponding reality. This means that if you begin to determine in your heart this year to walk according to the Spirit of God, it will begin to transform your reality. Your reality (or daily life) will begin to change and look like the One who is leading. Many times, it comes without us noticing the change, while others begin to see it first. I’ve even noticed it the lives of people who are seeking the Lord daily within my own sight, when they had no idea of the transformation which was occurring. Here’s the catch though; as Chafer said above; “The revelation concerning this possible transition, with all of its experiences and blessings, is taken seriously only by serious believers who are faithfully seeking a God-honoring daily life.”

So what does your resolution look like now? Is it serious? Can God take you serious today? Is it solid, unyielding, or unlikely to change? This is my commitment this year to Jesus. I want to walk in the Spirit this year with so much solid and unyielding faith that my relationship with Jesus Christ gives me a boundless joy and consolation in this gospel of deliverance, power and victory! Will you join me?