Scripture: John 14:6-14; Romans 8:14-17

Vs. John 14:12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me
will do whatever I have been doing.  He will do even greater things than these, because
I am going to the Father.”

A witness places her left hand on the Bible and raises her right hand and swears to tell the truth when she says, “I do.”

A couple pledge to love and to cherish each other for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health by saying, “I do.”

A politician promises to serve and defend the constitution of the United States of American when he says, “I do.”

At the time of a child’s baptism parents and congregations promise to pray for a child, to teach a child how to pray, to show a child the joy of living a life in Christ by saying, “I do.”

This morning you, eleven youth stood within this body of Christ and said, “I do.”

Do you know what you promised when you said, “I do?”

Some people would tell you that you promised that you would go to church, say your prayers and read your Bible.  Most congregations would be happy if they saw their confirmed youth in church after confirmation.  I hope that this is not one of those congregations.

You did not make a promise to the church today.  You made a promise to God, a promise that should be lived out within the church but a promise that far exceeds the confines of these four walls.

To use the words of Jesus found in this mornings gospel lesson, when you said, “I do.” You promised to do what Jesus did. As a matter of fact you have promised to do greater things than Jesus.

“I tell you the truth, anyone,” and that includes you, me and everyone in this sanctuary, “anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

I would hope that all of us could learn from the example set by David Robinson.  David Robinson is one of the premier players in the NBA.  When he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy he was drafted 1^st in the NBA draft, every college basketball star’s dream. David Robinson did not however report to the San Antonio Spurs.  David Robinson insisted on completing his service commitment to the US Navy first.

He had given his Word, He said, “I do.”  And he would not back out no matter how tempting the offer was.  David Robinson understood the importance of keeping a commitment.

You and every one here this morning that has made a confirmation or confessed Jesus as their Lord and Savior have committed your lives to Jesus Christ.  You have received forgiveness and the gift of eternal life.  In return you have promised to love, honor, and obey.  You have promised to serve Jesus with our whole hearts.  It is a commitment which some have a hard time keeping.

Times get tough or temptation comes knocking pressuring us to conform to this world.  We forget all about the promise we made.  Or worse yet, we choose to ignore it.  We go back on our word and back to a life style that displeases God.

Psalm 145:13 states,

^{“God is faithful to all His promises.”}

God keeps His commitment to us, therefore He expects us to do the same.   I want to challenge you this morning with the Words of the apostle Paul,

“Whatever you do,
work at it with all your heart,
as working for the Lord,
not for men,
since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.”

This would be as good a time as any for all of us to examine our life, our relationships, and our promises that we made to God or to someone else.  Are we being faithful?  Are we bending our promises?  Are we choosing to ignore them?

May God’s Word challenge you not to be content with just saying, “I do!” May you strive to do what Jesus did and to do greater. For Jesus said,

“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these.”

Amen