[Photo Above] “Creation of Man” Michelangelo’s Fresco painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City in Rome (1508-1512). It represents Gods’ Word speaking life into creation from the Genesis story. Gods’ word is dependable, is ours?
“When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it.” [Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 NLT]
We are all wanting to grow in our relationship with God and become the men and women he has created us to be. We know it will take work and commitment, but we are willing to put in the work. We know it is costly, but we are counting the costs. We have been challenged already to think and act intentionally this summer for we know if we are not intentional, we will miss an opportunity and end up being lazy. We don’t want that. We have a rough plan in our minds about what we want to do and know already that it is going to take some serious work to finalize our plan. But here is the sobering part of the process I really want all of you to hear, ‘nobody makes a commitment to God and doesn’t follow through, only fools do that and God has no pleasure in fools’.
“Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few.” [Ecclesiastes 5:2 NLT]
Listen, I’m not trying to scare you or back you down from making a commitment to grow your faith this summer. I’m just asking you to clearly and soberly see the situation that is before you so you can make a mature, strong move with God. For your commitment is to the Lord first and foremost. We are committing to Jesus, to walk with him, spend time with him and listen to him. So simply state what you are going to do and let your yes be yes and your no be no. ‘And it is better to not commit than to make a commitment and not follow through’.
“Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.”
[Matthew 5:37]
Is there integrity in our word? Is our word our bond? Are we known as a people of our word? This is such a huge growth opportunity for us to model the dependability of the kingdom of heaven by its people being dependable for theirs words. If you can be know as a person who is dependable by their word, it’s sets you into a different, higher class of people, almost an elite class.
Finally, follow me through a process and prepare yourself for success this summer:
- Consider what you want to do this summer ( most of you started this process last week)
- Spend time this week refining your thoughts and thinking through the details of your plan.
- At the next discipleship group simply state what it is you are going to do (if you need help, in the group ask for help refining your idea).
- As a group, we will hold you accountable.
- Ask someone intentionally to walk it out with you this summer (Even Jesus’ disciples were sent out two by two)
- We want to commission you to the work by praying over you as a group and as individuals.
- Lastly, execute. Walk it out and see what God will do with your mustard seed faith.