Devotional Thought for December 10th

From "Salvation Army orders and regulations for soldiers, 1950"

Am I fulfilling the vows and promises I have made before God in the past?

It is a heavy thing to make a vow to the living God who someday will call everyone to accounts. I will have to give an account before his throne. I will have to open up the books and do a line by line audit before the God of the Universe. And I want that to be a joyous occassion. I look forward to the sensation of permanent relief on hearing the words "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
What I do not want is for half-remembered rash commitments to dismay me before the throne. Because I do not want to wince in glory I will work here on earth, to satisfy the commitments I have made.
This is not out of any effort to earn my way to heaven. I know how that audit's going to go. There will be lots of red in the books: first the red of red ink to indicate indebtedness; then the red of Jesus' blood to indicate atonement.
But let God establish his word. I will be careful about making vows because I'm going to be careful to keep the vows I make.

Col. 2:13-14 (ESV) And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, [14] by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.