15- COMMITMENT

In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, One God, Amen.  

Lesson No. 15

COMMITMENT

References:     

Matthew 13:44-46

Notes For Servants:

Objectives:

General:       

Specific:       

Instructions:

Bible Verse:

“For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Cor 2:16)

Lesson:

Commitment

EACH OF US SEEKS HAPPINESS

+ We all want to be happy and successful. The Lord Jesus used two parables to illustrate this quest He said, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he gees and sells all that he has and buys that field".. "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it". (Matt. 13: 44—46).  People think that happiness lies in material things.  They seek for money, positions, fame and physical health.  All these, however, should not be ends in themselves, but only means.  Our goal is Christ as the two parables we have read show.  Christ is "the treasure" and "the pearl of great value".

- The Bible says about Him, "In whom (Christ) are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2: 3).

- He is the source to all true happiness.  If Christ lives in our hearts, we have real peace. “Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Through Him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of showing the glory of God". (Rom. 5: 1 2)  Since our Saviour the Lord Jesus, is the treasure, what des the field (in which the treasure is hid) stand for?  Does it not point to the Holy Bible with its Old and New Testaments?  Indeed, everyone who searches for Christ in the Holy Bible finds Him.  The field also stands for the Church which is the vessel of faith; and all who join its living body soon discover its Lord and Saviour in whom is all fulness.

Are we living‑members of that body?  Does Christ truly fill the whole of our lives?  or, do we know Him only superficially valuable treasures are usually found way down in the earth.  So, also the treasure of grace which is hid in Christ cannot be obtained unless we delve into the‑ depth. Our knowledge of Christ should not be superficial. We should search the Scriptures carefully in order to find Him, and we should have deep fellowship with Him in prayer and in the Church.  Once we discover Him, we are ready to leave all for His sake.

NECESSARY OBLIGATIONS

+ The treasure parable says that, "In his joy he gees and sells all that he has and buys that field".  And in the parable of: the pearl we lead that " on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had, and bought at".  Those who dis cover the treasure, are ready io pav any price for it. Such zeal is the fruit of discovery.  When we discover the Lord Jesus, we are extremely happy. As David says in Pslam 105:3 "Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice".  And as the process of buying entails obligations so the true spiritual life necessitates complete consecration and dedication.

+ Why can we not live partly for God, and partly for the self ?  If the Lord Jesus is our bridegroom, the bride must devote ‑herself completely to Him.  We should live not for ourselves, but for Him who died for our sake.

+ We must "sell", or give up, unholy passions.

+ We must "sell" our sins and errors.

+ We must "sell" our pride, arrogance, and haughtiness.

+ We must “sell” our absorption in, and excessive pre‑occupation with, the affairs of this life, as Mary did, thus choosing. "the good portion" (Luke 10: 42).

WHAT DO WE DEDICATE?

Through prayer, we dedicate:

+ The body:  "Present your bodies as a living sacrifice. holy and applicable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is; good and acceptable and perfect.". (Rom 12:l-2).  In the light of the previous verses, how should we act when faced by sexual temptations?

+ The Emotions: "Let love be genuine; love one an other with brotherly affection.  Be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord". (Rom. 12:10-11).  Note that the Apostle Paul experienced this kind of love.  He says in (1 Cor. 2:2) “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified".

If we, too, learn to see Christ in all people, we cannot help loving them.  The flesh calls for lust and anger but Grace induces disinterested love.

+ The Mind: “We have the mind of Christ" (1 Cor. 2:16)

How can we overcome evil thoughts?

“whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely. whatever is gracious, if there is excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things''. (Phil. 4:8).

Through prayer and through meditation on the word of God, we acquire the mind of Christ, and learn to think His thoughts.  We should also dedicate our wills, time, friendships, as well as our future to the Lord.

Conclusion: