Total Commitment

Weddings are incredible occasions. A while back, I officiated at my son’s wedding. What an enormous moment, leading two young people in love through their vows to love, honour, and cherish one another, no matter what comes their way. The promises a couple makes on their wedding day are almost shocking in their boldness.

It would be even more shocking, though, if a couple didn’t make those promises to each other on their wedding day. If they were to say, “I promise to love you as long as I feel like it,” or “I’ll do my best to be faithful to you until things get tough.” Total commitment is what we expect at a wedding.

Total commitment is what Jesus expects from us, too. Like in a marriage, we can expect life with Jesus to be “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health.” In this passage alone, there are four stark reminders of the demands of discipleship. When we say yes to following Jesus, we risk rejection (vv 51-54). We may be giving up comforts like home and security (vv 57-58). We might even be asked to miss important moments—funerals (vv 59-60), time with family (vv 61-62).

Why would anyone embrace total self-sacrifice this way? Ask any engaged couple and they won’t hesitate: “We love each other.” “I can’t imagine life without him.” “She is worth the commitment.” True love and total commitment go hand in hand. Following Jesus may not be easy, but life without him would be unimaginable. Jesus is worth following, worth serving, worth risking everything for.

Respond in Prayer

Lord of all, you deserve everything from me. So often, I am half-hearted in how I serve and follow you. Fill me with such love and passion for you that abandoning everything for your sake seems like the most natural thing in the world.

Leonard Buhler

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® (NIV®).