Articles
I Am ALL IN
I Am ALL IN
Dick Brant
I feel sure from time to time, you have heard the expression, "I am all in." Of course, this expression often has to do with playing cards, but it could apply to other areas of life. The idea is, you are giving it everything you have. And you don't mind going ALL IN because guess what, you think you are going to win.
Other times you might find yourself giving everything to your job. Or it could be you give everything to be sure your kids are on the sports team and spend as much time as possible to be sure they stay on the team. You are ALL IN for them.
It could be your own sports activity. You are on the team, and you want to stay on the team. Also, it could be family or close friends. You do it all with them and for them.
We truly do understand the concept of being all in and giving the best we have to whatever we have made a commitment to, and rightly so. We do want others to be able to count on us.
Now, my question is, what about our commitment to the Lord? Are we ALL IN with the Lord?
Several scriptures make this point very clear. Notice just these three with me. I am sure you will be able to think of others.
Matthew 10:37, 38 - "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me."
Your choice -Your Priority
Mark 8:34, 35 - "And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it"
Your choice -Your Priority
Luke 9:23-25 - "And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?"
Your choice -Your Priority
I think we can all agree we must be ALL IN with the Lord or we are not in at all. With the Lord, there is no halfway plan. Let me note this too; it is also a lifetime commitment. As stated in Revelation 2:10----, "Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."
Let us all be able to say, all the time, Paul as stated in II Timothy 2:7-8, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing."
I said it a few times already; we know what it means to be ALL IN.
So, what about you are you? Are you ALL IN with the Lord?
