"The question isn't whether or not people are going to be committed¸ but rather who is going to get their commitments." -- Rick Warren

That quote has motivated me for many years as a Christian and pastor.  I know the world offers many false gods to vie for our commitments.  Many in our culture commit to the god of money and materialism.  Jesus told us 2,000 years ago to watch out for this god, when He said, "You cannot serve both God and money."  He didn't say it was hard to serve both. He said it's impossible!

Another rival god in our culture is being happy.  There's nothing wrong with being happy, unless it becomes the god of our lives, the focus of our commitments.  God doesn't tell us that the goal of life is to be happy, but to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness.

Perhaps the most insidious god of our culture is the god of self.  Many in our culture commit to self-promotion at all costs.  The motto of self-worship is "Look out for number one!"  Much, if not most, of the advertising in our world focuses on promoting one of these three gods in our lives.

Jesus offered another commitment:  "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me."  This will be the focus of our Not a Fan series that starts tomorrow.  Committing to Jesus and denying ourselves swims upstream against our culture in nearly every way.  To be committed followers of Jesus instead of self-serving fans is the challenge of every one who would truly follow after Jesus.  In Jesus' own day, few chose that commitment.  Being a fan is easy and fun.  Being a follower costs us everything--and promises the greatest reward of all: an eternal relationship with the living God of the universe!  I hope you'll join us tomorrow at 8:45 or 10:15 a.m. at the South Butler Primary School on Knoch Road in Saxonburg, PA to worship God and commit to following Him--whatever the cost!

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, Thank You for offering us something worth committing our lives to for now--and forever!  Fill us with the Holy Spirit that we commit to following You no matter what the cost.  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.