A prayer of commitment sealed the dedication of Solomon’s Temple in 1 Kings 8:61 (ESV) — 61 LET YOUR HEART THEREFORE BE WHOLLY TRUE TO THE LORD OUR GOD, WALKING IN HIS STATUTES AND KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS, as at this day.”
At the heart of this prayer were three requests: First, that the Lord would always bless His people as He had in the past. Second, that God would grant His people the will to walk in all His ways (1 Kings 8:59). And third, that these requests would remain close to God’s heart. After this prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice and the Glory of the Lord filled the temple (2 Chron.7:1).
How committed are you to the Lord and to the relationships He has placed in your path? There is a quick test you can perform to find out. First, is your heart wholly true? A divided heart will never endure. If you have “options” you will not make it. Instead, I need to treat God, and those I love, with the same passion as the day we first began our journey together.
Second, am I “walking in His Statutes”? That is, am I doing the good I know I ought to do for God and those I love? This can mean something different for each one of us (James 4:17).
And lastly, am I “keeping His commandments”? God has given me several lists in the New Testament of works of the flesh and their opposite, fruit of the Spirit. Similarly, most of us have vows, contracts, or agreements with those we love. Are we living up to these?
Friend, may we not fail the COMMITMENT test as Solomon did – rather, may God “grant us the will to walk in all His Ways”.
