The All-In God

You know the verse. You probably memorized it.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

God forbid that this becomes trite. It is a staggering truth that God’s love for His people and His commitment to fulfill His word and accomplish His purposes prompts Him to go all-in. He’s so all-in that he gave up His Son, His one and only Son. This is radical. Scandalous. Some would even say prodigal. God goes all-in and expects the same from His followers. He is one who desires whole-hearted devotion, full commitment, and joyful submission. This can be seen in the whole counsel of Scripture, in both God’s love for full devotion (stated positively) and God’s hatred of half-heartedness (stated negatively).

He will bless and honor those with this posture of heart.

The wisdom of diversification, risk-mitigation, and hedging your bet usually applies to many consequential decisions in life. Financial investments? Sure. Have different asset classes and exposure to multiple sectors. Insurance? Of course. Accidents happen all the time. Event planning? Good idea. Have a backup venue in case of rain. The decision to follow Jesus and worship God alone is not one of them. Do you vacillate? One foot in the world, one foot in the church? You will be the most miserable professing Christian out there. Too deep into the world to fully enjoy the things of God and too deep into “religion” to fully enjoy the things of the world. Dear Christian, choose this day whom you serve. Count the cost but be decided. Go all in, and meditate on the verses below:

God’s Love for Whole-Hearted Devotion and Full Commitment

1 Samuel 7:3 Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the LORD with all your heart, remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your hearts to the LORD and serve Him alone; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.

Numbers 14:24 But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit, and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendents shall take possession of it.

Deuteronomy 6:4-7 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth, so that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.

2 Chronicles 31:21 Every work which he began in the service of the house of God in law and in commandment, seeking his God, he did with all his heart and prospered.

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Proverbs 3:1-4 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for the length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.

Proverbs 16:3 Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

Matthew 13:44-46 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

God’s hatred for half-heartedness

Luke 9:57-62 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Revelation 3:15-16 I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.