Hope in Full Commitment

Loving God is the foundation of the Christian life.

We have the capacity to love God because of His love for us.

We love him, because he first loved us.1 John 4:19

Truly loving God spills over in our love for others.

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?1 John 4:20

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.John 21:15

Biblical love, true love is not emotional, but action-oriented.

If ye love me, keep my commandments.John 14:15

Our love for God is not a feeling or emotion. Our love for God is lived out by obedience to Him and love for others.

We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.1 John 4:19-5:3

To truly have hope and peace, you must be fully committed.

A half-hearted, sporadic commitment doesn’t bring peace, but confusion.

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.James 4:4

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.Romans 8:5-8

Jesus isn’t simply looking for good church attendance, He is looking for disciples.

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.Matthew 16:24

One foot with Jesus and one foot in the world leaves you one foot away from abandoning your faith.

For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.2 Timothy 4:10

Being fully committed to Jesus means trusting Him in the midst of difficulties.

Prayer becomes a source of great comfort.

A Psalm of David. Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.Psalm 28:1

As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.Psalm 55:16

When Jesus is my hope, I can leave the outcome up to Him.

Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.Psalm 62:8

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.Job 13:15

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.Job 19:25-27

The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.Proverbs 14:32

When Jesus is my hope, I just want His glory.

According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.Philippians 1:20

We cannot ride the coattails of someone else’s faith. At some point, we must take ownership of our faith as our own.

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.2 Timothy 1:5