The Traits of the Committed Believer

John 21:15–25

Committed Christians operate on the basis of their love for the Lord, and their way is controlled by God. They have learned how to give their lives totally to God, and to trust Him for it. Committed believers’ wills are content with following. They are happy to do what Jesus leads them to do.

Their WORK Is Compelled By Love

John 21:15a “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”

Love is the great thing that really moves people who are in the service of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constrains (drives) us.

Peter was to be an effective leader, so the overwhelming drive in Peter must be his love for Jesus Christ. Jesus wants to establish that Peter loves Him. Jesus asked Peter if his life really showed ‘that you even have affection for Me, let alone supreme love.’

Peter’s history had revealed that even the love that he acknowledged to Jesus on a limited level was not evident by his life, Jesus is establishing in Peter’s mind the priority of love. He will never be effective in serving Jesus Christ unless he loves Him, foremost.

We will never be effective in serving Jesus if our love is not fully committed to Him.

Their WAY Is Committed To God

The committed Christian yields the control of his or her destiny to God; no questions asked. It is a “Yes, Lord” at its core.

John 21:18 Truly, truly I say to you, when you were young, you tied [your clothes] around yourself and walked wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will tie you up and carry [you] where you do not want [to go].

Peter committed his life to Christ and Christ said, “Peter, you’ll live for Me and you’ll die nailed to a cross.” Peter was able to give his life to the Lord and let Him have it and do whatever He wanted with it.

Are we willing to do that? Are we willing to say that whatever we love in life, our successes, our job, our money, anything:

“God, here it is, whatever it is You want me to do I’ll do it, even if it’s dying for You.”

What if God said, ‘Get out of this deal/situation you are in, and get over here and study the Word of God. I want you to be a teacher or to lead in this ministry.’
Are we really willing to just walk away from it and do what God wants us to do?

Are we willing for our lives to be turned upside down to follow what Jesus wants in our lives?

Although committed believers are to surrender our lives fully to Christ motivated by love, there are many blessings in that sacrifice that the world does (and sometimes we do not) not see or expect. There is unspeakable freedom, even liberation in giving all to Christ, and there are always great blessings—tangible and intangible, that He gives us as we go.

Their WILL Is Content To Follow

John 21:19 (Now he said this to indicate by what kind of death he would glorify God.) And after He had said this, He said to him, “Follow me!”

The committed Christian is just happy to follow Jesus. They don’t have to be out front, doing their ‘own deal,’ doing their own thing. They simply follow Jesus, and following Jesus, means being where He is.

All the days of our life, in all the circumstances of our life, in all the places of our life, in all the relationships of our life, we should be able to say when asked,

“Why are you here?” “I’m here because I’m following Jesus and this is where He’s led me today. I am doing this, because this is where Jesus led me.”

We do not even have to fully understand the call or the details, which is especially hard for our western minds:

John 21:21 So when he saw this one, Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, but what about this one?” (this one is John)

The committed Christian is concerned about his/her own individual life and commitment to follow, and does not compare themselves to others.

Their WORDS Reflect Their Commitment

John 21:24 This is the disciple who is testifying about these [things], and who has written down these [things]. And we know that his testimony is true.

John, the beloved disciple was a great example of a committed believer. (See Gospel of John, I, II, III John & Revelation) He was constantly talking and writing about Jesus.