Bible Text: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 | Preacher: Pastor Steve | Series: Marriage Matters
What is commitment?
What is love?
Overlap of Love & Commitment
Caring  trust  sharing  sacrifice honesty respect giving commitment put other first support of this attachment devotion  long lasting liking concern for others well-being helping  security  loyalty affection  responsibility  safety
When we “love” someone there is an expectation that there is commitment
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance…love will last forever!
Committed Love (till death – Romans 7:2-3)
Helps us through the ups and downs
Makes it worth investing our heart, mind and soul
Does not threaten the LONG TERM COMMITMENT when wronged
Nurtures LONG TERM COMMITMENT (not taken for granted)
Being Secure With Belonging To Your Partner
What is Commitment?
Commitment is the unwavering belief that…”I belong to you and you belong to me.”
God’s love in commitment… and God’s commitment of love
Romans 8:31-39 Contract or Covenant?
Matthew 19:4-5 Belonging: The union between Christ (husband) and believers (bride) is a picture of marriage
John 14:15-17; Hebrews 13:5; Joshua 1:5-9 Practicing the Presence
Our Love and Commitment to the Lord
Revelation 2:4-5 But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love]. Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God’s will) and do the works you did previously [when first you knew the Lord], or else I will visit you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you change your mind and repent (AMP)
The Lord is NOT calling our church to recapture the enthusiasm of its past or our early years. The Lord is calling us into new directions, fresh vision and experiences. We are not here to experience the past but rather to experience the PRESENT work of the Holy Spirit and Jesus that is for TODAY.
Remember
Jesus is committed to us
Are we just “co-habiting” with Jesus?
Higher the commitment…higher the security and stability (in any relationship)
Repent
Abandonment and deserting Jesus who was our first love is heartbreaking. Because Jesus is no longer the center of who we are and what we are about (Matthew 22:36-38)
Repeat
Refresh, renew, redeem the richness of God’s Word, prayer, and passion for the Lord, serving, loving, and committing to Him as we once did!