All In For Jesus

-September 18, 2020-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

“They immediately left their nets and followed Him” (Mark 1:18).

“Then Jesus said, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me’” (Matthew 16:24).

Jesus called His disciples one by one, and they followed Him. All the disciples, except for Judas, died a martyr’s death. Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James and John; they immediately, and with no hesitation, left their nets, that is their fishing business and followed and served Him. He called Levi, who was called Matthew and he left his position as a tax collector at the tax station, and he followed. All the others did likewise.

The disciples were all in, as were the the prophets of old, and many of the kings of Judah. The question is: are we all in? It is like coming to a swimming pool. You can’t swim unless you are all in. I fear that today there are many who are just putting their toes in, not jumping in and swimming in the deep end. It is easy to go to church on Sundays, then go back to living for self the other six days.

Jesus wants our whole hearts, our total commitment seven days a week. The hymn writer wrote, “All for Jesus, all for Jesus! All my being’s ransomed powers; All my thoughts and words and doings, all my days and all my hours. Since my eyes were fixed on Jesus, I’ve lost sight of all beside, so enrapt my spirit’s vision, looking at the crucified.” Are you all in for Jesus?

Peter asked the Lord Jesus about what they who sacrificed all to follow Him would receive. He answered them, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:29). These men when filled with the Holy Spirit turned the world upside down. Fully committed Christians are definitely in the minority today. We must choose to follow Jesus, no turning back! We must be all in!

Have a blessed Lord’s Day and may we all be all in, in all ways, and at all times. Stay safe and healthy.

Being all in for Jesus,

Dean