Not long ago I attended a pastors’ conference. A senior statesman whose light is beginning to dim was asked to address us. He accepted the challenge and gave us a timely word: Seven Commitments for the Servant of God. May I share with you some of my gleanings from his talk?

1. Commit to giving your best. You may not always have 100%, but commit to giving 100% of whatever you have.

2. Commit to discipline and consistency. Discipline is doing what you should, even if you don’t always want to. Consistency is the byproduct of doing regularly whatever you do, even if you don’t always want to.

3. Commit to devotion. Devotion to the Savior, of course. When you are devoted to Him, discipline and consistency are so much easier.

4. Commit to getting better. Ask yourself 3 questions: What do I do well? What could I do better? What have I learned that will make me better? If we’ll allow it, even adversity can be our partner in growth (“It is good for me that I was afflicted…” Ps 119:71).

5. Commit to encouragement. How do you know if a person needs encouragement? If they’re breathing.

6. Commit to serve and sacrifice for one another. Commitments cost you something. Consider these two brothers. One needs a kidney. But he’s been a jerk his whole life and now he wants his brother’s kidney. When you’re selfish your legacy ends with you. When you’re selfless your legacy endures.

7. Commit to the truth. You are not the product of your thoughts. You are the product of the thoughts you believe. Is what you are believing true?