Last night I met with a group of youth. One of the topics was commitment.  The reason it came up, was because when you are working with young people, they often are having their times dictated by their home life. Single parenting, weekends with another parent, etc..  There is nothing terrible about it, other than the fact it is often hard on the families. And it makes things related to children difficult sometimes.

So, the question came up as we establish the youth group, as to what did the young people think about those who only “show” up for the “Fun Friday” every second month. The answers and thought process were interesting.

When I began Abundant Grace Fellowship, there were many who said “I am on your team” but months later they are nowhere to be found. And that is okay. I learned a long time ago, as many of you have, that people say things, but often what is said and what is done are two different things. Now one can argue that it is “wrong” but I would say the bigger question revolves around my life.

Am I committed? Can the hearts of my spouse, my children and my family count on me? Can my friends count on me? The folks in our church fellowship?

And while I might want to answer it that for myself, the real answer comes from those around me?

The youth will wrangle over the topic of friends who say they will be there and do not show up. I could be angry with those who “let me down” by not doing what they said they would. But that simply takes up “real estate” in my mind.

I am not “letting them slide”. I have said, what I think is wrong and move on.

Commitment is not something you can always do on your own. My own experience is that often the person who is “legalistic” in the rules they carry around with them, will let you down more often than the one who is grace oriented. Why? Because leaning on Jesus(The person of grace) brings with it empowerment to carry out what you say and help you do what you have said.

Grace is not about “just letting it slide”. (Realistically, grace is the power to have those “hard” discussions.) Or about just not “worrying” about it.

Commitment is already hard enough without making it nonexistent.

These young people are the ones who will look to us and ask the hard questions if we are willing to let them and listen.

Commitment is more an internal thing than it is an external thing. (How many spouses looked good on the outside and cheated on their spouses?)

One of the great restorations in the coming days will be the power of commitment and the truth it will carry.