What is commitment? Webster: “The delivery of a person or thing into the charge or keeping of another.” Another definition: “Giving yourself completely, unreservedly to God.” Jesus’ definition is found in Luke 9:23-26 and is much more severe. “And He said to them all, ‘If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” for whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He shall come in His glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.”

Commitment to Jesus is a suicide mission . . . to death. As Christians we must be totally committed to Jesus Christ. Jesus said we must take up our cross daily. The cross is used to crucify. The cross means death or shame or slow pain. It is not for decoration. There are three ways to die to be a disciple: Death to self (Luke 9:25); death to shame (Luke 9:26).

Here are four tests of commitment:

1. Family. The family is not first (only in comparison to Jesus). They often do not share your love for Christ (Matthew 10:35; Luke 12:52, 53. Luke 14:26, 27).
2. Possessions. Giving involves commitment, not just making a contribution. The average contribution is 3% (Luke 6:38),
3. Attendance. Is attendance one of your top priorities? Some who think they are more “spiritually enlightened” than the rest of us, have decided it is legalistic to insist on attendance. But why not just stick with what the Bible says? (Hebrews 10:24, 25).
4. Witnessing. The apostles were beaten for preaching and, afterwards, they rejoiced, they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name, though beaten, driven from homes, and put to death, they were committed to the proclamation of the gospel (Acts 5:18; 12:2,3:16:23).

When people are committed to Jesus Christ, they sometimes do things that the world simply does not understand. In fact, they frequently go counter to the world’s values. Some nominal Christians have one foot in the church on Sunday and the other in the world the rest of the week. The first disciples of Jesus must have appeared fanatical to their friends. They didn’t go on a mission trip for a week; they went for a life time! They left everything. Why did they do that? They were committed to Jesus Christ! How about you? –  via “The Crier” Worldwide Spanish Literature ministry, Author: Dale Foster, Cypress, TX