Vow A Vow

Good Morning!

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 New International Version (NIV)

4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. 5 It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.

Brother Tom Futch asked me about the above verse yesterday morning. I remembered the gist but couldn’t remember the chapter and verse. So I looked it up in the concordance.

One might think that he or she has never made a vow to God … but I beg to differ. You might remember referring to Jesus as “Lord”. That in fact is an acknowledgment of the vow we made to God when we received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. I take the term seriously. What does it mean to have Christ Jesus as Lord? Well, let’s think about that for a moment.

In 1611, the word “Lord” indicated a person of authority. Now, why do I pick 1611? The King James version of the Bible was printed in 1611 … and most of us were brought up under the teaching of that version. However, in 2011, our language is a little different. It doesn’t change the meaning of the word, though. Jesus is still the one in authority.

Until the day I said “yes” to Jesus, I had “control” of my life. Well, actually, sIn had control of my life … but then you have to understand that sIn is when we are rebellion against God’s desires. Anyway, BC (before Christ) my primary purpose was to please my own self. I used people as much I could. And I did not value anyone other than ME. That changed when Jesus became LORD of my life. He took control of my life.

So, what does that have to do with a vow?

Romans 10:9-10 New International Version (NIV)
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

There is a change of authority when we receive Christ Jesus. We “vow” to place Him in control of our lives. And when we do… well, it just gets sweet. The neat thing about having Christ as our Lord is He cares about our every need. And knowing that He cares gives me comfort and peace.

Agape’


Mr. Jim


Prayer Need:
Pat Miller – the mother of the secretary at Jim’s church
Roger Brewer’s sister – Betty Buchanan