All In

What comes to your mind when you hear the currently popular phrase “I am all in”?
Maybe words or phrases like on board, supportive, got your back, fully committed, loyal, take a bullet for you etc. come to mind.  “All in” is an awesome concept. But what does it really me to be “all in”, especially when it comes to Christian living
Our word for this week makes it clear that the twelve original disciples were “all in” for following Christ.
“As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. Jesus said therefore to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom we shall go? You have the words of eternal life. And we have believed and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:66-69
When Jesus taught what it would cost to follow Him, many followers fell out. Walking away from Jesus revealed that they were all out, not all in. Jesus asked a deeply penetrating question of the twelve. Will you drop out too? I can feel strong emotion in those words of our Lord.
Peter, spokesman for the disciples, said in essence, WE ARE ALL IN!
Lord, where else would be go? You, only You Jesus, have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God. You are the Savior. We are fully on board with You.
Peter, you got it right. There is no where else to go than to follow Jesus. As we journey through the New Testament, indeed, the disciples demonstrated they were all in for Him. They all gave their lives for Christ.
Jesus pulls no punches: You are either for Me or against Me. All in or all out. (Matthew 12:30, Luke 8:13-14).
There is no one foot in and one foot discipleship. Following, serving and witnessing for Christ is an “all in” proposition. Christ followers are called to take up their cross and follow Him. We must lose our life to find it. Deny ourselves to live fully for Jesus.  (Matthew 10:38-39).
There is no middle ground. No halfway followership. No part-time discipleship.
Half-hearted, semi-committed professing Christians will not cut it in God’s Kingdom. In the last days, which we are in, many will fall away from the faith. End times events and persecution of believers which Jesus foretold in Matthew 24 will test the depth of many people’s supposed loyalty to Jesus. (Matthew 24:10-13)
Following Jesus, walking by faith and obedience throughout an entire lifetime, is all about sold out service to the Lord.

All In? Things To Think About
Are you willing to stand up for the truth when no one else will? Will you speak up for Christ when others turn silent about Him? Are you willing to deny yourself in order to extend the Kingdom of God? Are you willing to be uncomfortable, to suffer inconvenience, hardship, and endure persecution from the hands of those who attack the name of Jesus and His followers? Are you willing to joyfully take the risk to tell people that God loves them knowing you might be ridiculed, criticized, marginalized, and ostracized by people who are anti-Christian? Are you willing to stand up for Jesus who hung on a cross for you? BOTTOM LINE: Would you be willing to literally lay your life down for Jesus Christ?
All in means ALL IN!
These challenging times in our increasingly anti-Christ culture require Christians to search their hearts and decide how committed to Jesus Christ they really are. Maybe we aren’t as “all in” as we think we are.
Is there anything, my brother or sister in Christ, that would keep you from being all in, fully surrendered,  100% sold out for Jesus? Something to think about for me and you.
The Cross and resurrection mean Jesus Christ was and is “all in” for us. Because of His great love for us, if we say we love the Lord, the least we can do is to be “all in” for Him.
All in for Him…how about you? Will you walk away from Jesus or walk with Him all the way to glory? 
“But as for and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
A Word For Your Week: Live everyday “all in” for Jesus.