The Faith Church Membership Covenant is a great resource to review as a reminder of how we are called to live in this world. In previous blog posts, we have looked at several aspects of this covenant, and shared how Vision of Hope seeks to meet these biblical standards as well. Let’s continue to unpack this covenant:
I also purpose to maintain family and private devotions; to train my children according to the Word of God; to seek the salvation of my relatives, friends, neighbors and acquaintances; to walk carefully and cautiously in the world; to be just in my dealings, faithful in my engagements, and exemplary in my conduct; to avoid all gossip, backbiting, and unrighteous anger; to abstain from all forms of activity that dishonor our Lord Jesus Christ, cause stumbling to a fellow believer, or hinder the winning of a soul to Christ; to be zealous in my efforts to advance the cause of Christ, and to give Him preeminence in all things.
The next aspect we will look at is the concept of being “faithful in my engagements.” As followers of Christ, it is very important that we keep the commitments we make to others.
Firstly, we are commanded to do so. In Number 30:2, the people are commanded, “If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.” Likewise, Ecclesiastes 4:4-5 tells us, “When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.” In Psalm 89:34, the psalmist commits, “I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips.” It is clear that keeping our commitments is pleasing to our Lord.
Not only is living in this way pleasing to the Lord, but it is also a way we can be reflections of His character in our world! 1 Peter 3:9 tells us that “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness…” Also, Numbers 23:19 states, “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” Our God is a God of commitments, and we can be sure He will always fulfill them. In a world where promises are forgotten and hopes shattered, someone who is faithful in every engagement and remains true to their commitments is truly a bright reflection of who our Lord is!
At Vision of Hope, we seek to help our ladies grow to be women who are true to their word. As a young lady progresses to Phase 2 of our program, she is able to create her own daily schedules to provide accountability and promote a productive and balanced lifestyle. She is held accountable to follow her daily plans and the commitments she makes with others. Sometimes this is a push for her, and I’m sure we can all relate, as there have often been times in all of our lives in which we have made commitments and then “bailed out” of them when we didn’t feel like fulfilling them, but this is not how our Lord is Himself, nor how He calls us to live. As our ladies learn to fulfill what they commit to, they grow to be clearer reflections of our Lord each day!
Stay tuned for further insight into the Faith Church Membership Covenant!
