Read:  Deuteronomy 10:12-22

         March Madness is over, and April has arrived.  Villanova is your NCAA National Basketball Champion.  But something else in college basketball has recently caught my attention.  I have noticed the unreal number of players who leave their teams and transfer to another school each year.  On average there are 700-800 players who leave one team and transfer to another each year.  Recent statistics show that 40% of recruits are gone by the end of their sophomore seasons.  Perhaps we need to remember this when our favorite college team gets excited about their latest blue-chip recruit.  In two years they may not be around.

It is a reminder of how commitment is very fragile in our current culture.  This fragility extends from sports, to civic organizations, to volunteer opportunities, and even to church.  It begs us to ask the question what has changed or what is going on?  After all, commitment is key to being faithful, trustworthy, counted on, and devoted to what we are called to.

Perhaps it is not a new problem though.  This reminds us of what happened to the disciples of Jesus after he was arrested, tried, and crucified on the cross of Calvary.  Peter denied knowing Christ three times, the other disciples fled the scene, and many of them feared that their lives could be next.  Their commitment to Jesus their Savior had wavered.

But as we often say, the resurrection changed everything.  After Jesus rose from the grave on Easter those same disciples found renewed hope, strength, and commitment.  Yes, Jesus was who he said he was.  Yes, Jesus did what he had said he would do.  And Yes, Jesus confirmed that he was the Son of God.

In Deuteronomy 10:12-13 we are encouraged to follow God and be totally committed to his will for our lives.  This commitment is such an important part of realizing the blessings in life that God has for us.  In those verses Moses says, “What does the Lord want from you?  The Lord wants you to respect and follow him, to love and serve him with all your heart and soul.”  Sounds a lot like commitment to me.  When we are committed we are faithful and trustworthy.

Make it Personal:  Whether it be basketball teams or other areas, there is much discussion about the level of commitment these days.  How about we up our game and take it to next level?  Let’s be committed, faithful, and devoted, and let it start with our commitment to God.

Have a blessed week, Pastor Glen Rhodes