Commitment

Definition of COMMITMENT

a : an agreement or pledge to do something

b : something pledged

c : the state or an instance of being obligated or emotionally impelled

I found this definition in the Webster's Online Dictionary.  As I let in soak in I realized that commitment is the very thing Satan doesn't want us to understand.  If we "pledge" to pursue HIM or are "emotionally impelled" to have faith in HIM then Satan has a tough time having his way in our life.  Another thing the enemy doesn't want us to stay committed to is our Fire team of men that we have "pledged" and "agreed" to be involved.  He wants us to be uncommitted and let each other down.  Especially this time of the year...he will get us to think we have "too much going on" or "it's summertime" and I will take a break for awhile.   Remember the example of the lion following the flock of sheep hiding in the bushes waiting for one of them to "drift off" so he can jump out and devour them while they "have too much going on" or "it's summer time so I am going to take a break".

So are you staying committed to your pursuit of HIM?

Are you staying committed to your team of guys?

Can they count on your committtment?

Are you someone who will follow through on your commitments?

 "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. "   1Peter 5:8 (ESV)  

Wise Counsel

I have the awesome blessing each Sunday to teach an ABF class (sunday school) and this past Sunday our lesson was from 1 Kings 12.  We see in that chapter young King Rehoboam (Solomon's son) is approached by the people to "lighten the hard sevice of his father and his heavy yoke he had placed on them"   So Rehoboam seeks counsel on how he should respond He initially cconsults with the elders who had served his father. They were men of experience and they gave Rehoboam very practical and wise counsel.  But it says that he forsook their counsel and consulted with young men who grew up with him and served him.  They lacked experience and wisdom and were just "echoers" of what ever Rehoboam was thinking.  It doesnt say he ever went to God for counsel.  This account caused me to think about two questions  1.) Where must we go to get wise counsel?  2.) But whom do I go to recieve wise counsel?    The enemy wants me to seek my own wisdom and he also wants me to stay so busy in my life that I dont have a group of men that I meet and invest time each week. That keeps me from having Christian men in my life that I can turn to when I need mature counsel.

So where do you turn when you need cousel in your life?   It must be HIM first!!
Then you must turn to mature men in their walk (Heb. 5:13-14) to reinfocre the counsel HE gives you!

"The way of the fool is right in his own eyes. But a wise man is he who listens to counsel"  (Prov 12:15)