RAM Commit

We commit to things every day without much thought. We commit to making a meal, completing tasks at work, going to birthday parties, etc. We are no strangers to commitments but when it comes to the commitments of our intimate relationships how familiar are we? When you commit to a person you are taking on a level of responsibility. You are promising that you will do your part to maintain the integrity of the relationship. Marriage is the ultimate commitment to a relationship and as such requires great responsibility. “Marital commitment, by definition, requires faith and risk.” (Van Epp, pg. 281.) Marriage is one of the most rewarding relationships in this world but if there is no risk then there cannot be a great reward. Commitment makes marriage a beautiful paradox.

The Lord is capable of the deepest love because He was committed to feeling the deepest pain. It seems contradictory and yet it is the principle of opposition that governs this universe. Commitment sometimes feels like a paradox. You cannot have the deep love that comes from the marital covenant unless you have given your commitment to it. This has led me on a search of the Heavenly paradoxes that we learn of in the Gospel. Here are a few I have come across:

·         God is no respecter of persons, He loves all the same / The concept of the elect.

·         Wait patiently on the Lord/ Be anxiously engaged in a good cause.

·         Hunger and thirst after righteousness/ Feast upon the words of Christ.

·         Work out your own salvation / Eternal marriage is necessary for exaltation.

·         Give your life to God in order to obtain your life.

·         The mysteries of God can't be understood/ The Gospel of is simple.  

·         We are fallen man/ we are spiritual beings.

·         I am a merciful God/ I am a just God.

·         Lose your life in the Gospel/ Find it in the Gospel.

·         Zion must be built in your heart/ Zion is a physical place.

Commitment is an act of courage. I was once troubled with a decision that brought up numerous fears for me. I was actively trying to work through these fears before I could move forward with the decision. As I was telling a trusted friend about my dilemma she said three short words that pierced my heart. She said, “do it afraid.” And that is my advice with big decisions. Fears have a way of working themselves out if you choose to acknowledge them but not let them manage you. If you’re scared to make the commitment of marriage due to trauma from a parent’s divorce or uncertainties of the future, take those seriously, but move forward knowing that your fears aren’t qualified to call the shots. Commit knowing you could fail miserably or succeed gloriously. Both will bring lessons to learn and be exactly what you need for your journey here on earth.