Have you thought much about being ‘all in’? When I was reading Matthew 4:18-22 I was reminded of how when Jesus called the 12 disciples, he wanted them to follow him. He expected them to be ‘all in’. Let’s read those verses together.
18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.
22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
In these verses we see Simon called Peter, Andrew, and later James and John working as they were accustomed. When Jesus came along and called them to follow him, they left everything and followed him. When Jesus called them, he said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” That was their call. Follow Christ and he would teach them how to touch others with His love. To read that immediately they dropped what they were doing and followed Jesus tells me that they were “all in.” They accepted the call of the Lord and followed him without question.
That call to follow Jesus has been given to each of us as well. It reminded me of when my brother, Stan passed away back in 2013 I was brought to a verse in Acts 20:24 where we read Paul saying, “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” (NIV) I have since claimed that verse to be my own. That verse to me is an ‘all in’ verse.
So, I ask you today have you heard the call of Christ, “Follow me?” If you have heard that call do you suppose the call is any different today than it was then? We may not have heard that call from Jesus in person like the disciples did, but we have heard it from the Word and by the Spirit. It should be as real to us today as it was to those who received it in Jesus’ day. If we decide to accept the call, are we willing to leave this world and be ‘all in’ with Jesus?
Many folks find it hard to set aside their allegiance to the world and get into the boat with Jesus. Some prefer to stand with one foot on the dock and one foot in the boat. As the boat drifts away from the dock there is a decision that must be made. Either put both feet in the boat or get back on the dock. If you fail to do one or the other you can picture the result, you will be in the water.
If you place both feet in the boat, you are ‘all in’. The boat has left the dock and you are committed. That’s when you realize your life is no longer your own, but you belong body and soul, in life and in death to Jesus. Following him is now your only option.
If you choose to stand with both feet on the dock, you have missed the boat and feel you have no obligation to the Lord. You will simply follow your own way, but that way leads to destruction.
When we follow Jesus, we will face storms in our life. These storms stem from a sinful broken world, just like when the disciples encountered storms on the Sea of Galilee. (Check out Matthew 8:23-27) It speaks of the fact that the disciples followed Jesus and got into the boat. Without warning a furious storm came up and the disciples were afraid they were going to drown. Jesus remarked about their little faith and then rebuked the wind and the waves, and the sea became calm. Jesus was in the business of administering grace. Through the grace of God comes peace. Peace during the storm. That is exactly the ministry that Jesus gives those who choose to follow him. We realize just like we read earlier in Act 20:24 that our lives are worth nothing except to finish the race and to complete the task that Jesus Christ has given each of us to testify to the gospel of God’s grace. Are you willing to be ‘all in’? Are you willing to give up what’s on the dock and get into the boat with Jesus?
Often heeding the call and following Jesus is not easy. There will be hard times. There is a cost, but following Jesus is always rewarding because we will have a part in the Kingdom of God and be able to share the love of God with others.
Are you “all in?”
In Christ,