Commitment is defined as a mental decision based upon revealed facts; in our case, concerning a choice of action toward God. When the statement is made, “I will”; it comes as a decision made in one’s spirit concerning what he is going to do, before he does it.

When this commitment toward God is decided, it is decided because of God’s revelation of His Command to His child as to what he is to do and why; God reveals His will for His children. This commitment is not partial, but total. This commitment is a mental surrender to God and a submission to the Word of God (to Christ and to His instructions).

True Commitment comes when a decision is made that God is true, that He is your God, even your Father; and when you know that it is His Word to you and for you.

True Commitment comes when God reveals who He is and who you are to Him. See Isaiah 6:1-8 to note that True Commitment begins when you:

• See the Glory of God; see Him high and lifted up; see His Preeminence, His Perfection, His Holiness (verses 1-3).
• See your sinfulness in light of His Holiness and Glory (verses 4-5).
• Then see the necessity of being covered by His Atonement; wherein you are Reconciled back to God, Redeemed from the curse of sin, Sanctified and Purged and Cleansed by His Atonement (verses 6-7).
• Wherein you are Justified (or declared Righteous in His Righteousness; Romans 3:24-25) (verses 6-7).
• Are then revealed His Will (verses 8, 9-13).
• Then confession of True Commitment will ensue, “…Here am I; send me” (verse 8b).
• The proof however is in Performance, Obedience; pick up your cross and follow Him (Luke 14:27).

True Commitment cannot be rejected or avoided or replaced, because it was ordained of God before the servant of God is born (Proverbs 19:21). Therefore, True Commitment comes from the Sovereign God in His Sovereign Purpose.

Our text verse today is Jeremiah 1:5:

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”

Read verses 8 and 9, where God touched Jeremiah’s mouth and placed His Words in Jeremiah’s mouth. Then, in verse 10, He revealed His Will for Jeremiah. Therefore, Jeremiah’s commitment was a Sovereign Act of God.

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”  (Philippians 2:13)

Some raise the question, “Where is Jeremiah’s free will?” His free will is lodged in his position in God. When a man has the Mind of God, is revealed the Will of God, and has the Power of God living within him; then his will is to please God.

Therefore, there can be no True Commitment without the Sovereign Act of God in His own Will and Purpose.  When the stories of each and every servant of God in the Old Testament and in the New Testament are examined; it is God that makes His approach to the man, and not the man to God. There are no exceptions in the Word of God. So, without God’s action toward Jeremiah (or any other servant) there would be no commitment.

Child of God, you see, to those whom God has purposed to serve Him; He brings them His Way, and He gives them Revelation and Regeneration and Power to make the commitment. Then the choice to walk God’s Way is confessed by action. (See Acts 9:15-20.)

True Commitment is always evidenced by Performance (the actual doing of God’s Will in this life by the chosen vessel of God). Anything less than True Commitment (which comes from the Sovereign Will of God), will not stand the acid test. It will not endure; it has no drive, nor determination to perform, nor any power to perform.

If it is not True Commitment, then it is fabricated by the deception of the flesh and will not yield the Fruit of the Spirit and will not remain. But those who are chosen and called will bear fruit, and it will remain:

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” (John 15:16)