All In!

There is an underlying culture in the modern church, a culture that has decided that serving God is up to how we feel, what we like and limited by our preferences. We choose the church we attend based on those very things…and we do simply ‘attend’, often rather than serve. The saddest part of this reality, is that each person who has chosen this type of Christianity, is being robbed of the greatest privilege mankind will ever know…that of partnering with Jesus Himself to impact and change our world with the Good News of the Gospel.

So…what can be done about this? Honestly, it will take a decision by each of us to change!…not according to my standards or any man’s, but according to the Word of God.  

• Acts 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
• 1 Corinthians 6:19 You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
• Matthew 10:37 “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.
• John 14:15 “If you love me, keep my commands.
• Philippians 3:7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

With this small sampling of what the Bible says, both through Jesus Himself and through the apostles, there’s no room for a ‘pick your own’ Christianity, but only room for an “All In” or “All out” faith. The biggest obstacle for God is our determined belief that we choose what should and shouldn’t matter, because it limits our faith, obedience and impact. As long as the limits are set by us, we will never see the fullness of the limitless power of our God displayed and every nation reached!

So what do we do? Thankfully…it’s simple. We simply hear God and do what He says!!  That’s it? If people ask ‘what should I do?’, our response should be, ‘What did God say?’  If they know what He’s said, tell them to go do it!  If they don’t know, tell them to go and find out.
Either way, we are pointing people and ourselves to God, His Will, His plan, His power, His Kingdom.
This is all incredible news!…except that whole thing I mentioned at the beginning.  Our opinion and preference really doesn’t matter!!  Christianity has never been of the design of man, but in spite of and because of the sinful plans of men.  It’s time for each of us to get back to hearing God for ourselves, praying, fasting, crying out UNTIL we hear His voice!…then, in spite of all the hardships and struggle we may see ahead, to step out in obedience…and see the God of all Creation do impossible things through an obedient people. 
“Hear God & Obey!”