Inspired to be All In
All in. Don’t we love to say as Americans we are all in? Ask us about our marriage, our jobs, our sports teams, our children, our communities, our church…the list goes on and on. We pat ourselves on the back and say, “Yep, I am all in!”
We often over commit and under produce. We are stressed and anxious. Our intentions are solid, responsible, and logical. Our accomplishments may be many. At least we look good to those around us. But what does it really mean to be all in? Are we all in for the right purpose or reason?
One of Jesus’ favorite disciples was Peter. There was a man that was all in.
As part of Jesus’ inner circle of friends Peter had witnessed Christ’s transfiguration and meeting with Moses and Elijah. (Matthew 17:1-3)
He boldly proclaimed in Matthew 26:35 that, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never disown You.” and this was after Jesus, the Son of God, predicted he would deny Him three times.
Peter was the sword bearer at Jesus’ arrest, slicing off the ear of one of the soldiers. (John 18:10)
Jesus declared that Peter was the rock on which He would build His church. (Matthew 16:19)
This guy was all in.
Yet, were there times when he missed out on the best of Jesus because of fear and he fell just short of really being all in? Who can forget the doubt he had when he walked on water and failed to fully trust? (Read Matthew 14:22-33) Of course Jesus’s predictions of the denials came true as well.
To this I can relate. All in is what I have always wanted my mantra to be no matter if I was playing basketball, developing a relationship or doing a task. I wanted to be “that person”. Always giving 100% while being in constant motion to get things done. It’s not always served me well and I regularly wonder what I am missing.
Recently I observed a young girl who was getting baptized. She gingerly stepped into the water clearly hesitating, stopping before getting fully situated in the baptismal. Initially it appeared that maybe the cold water was causing this hesitancy.
The pastor conducting the baptism was quietly talking with her. She was clearly crying. Her mother appeared behind the Pastor and then stood next to him. She too was quietly talking and encouraging her daughter to move further into the water.
Finally the pastor turned on his microphone. He kindly and tentatively explained that this young girl was being very brave. She wanted to be baptized but was afraid of the water.
At our church when someone is baptized, it is customary for the audience to cheer, shout and applaud as the baptized individual is raised from the water. Today the pastor asked for this encouragement before the immersion.
As the pastor and her mother continued to encourage, the audience expressed their great support. Cheers and applause went on for quite some time. Finally, the pastor asked her who Jesus is to her and proceed to say the words of baptism. The young girl kneeled slightly deeper into the water and then bent down and she splashed water on her face…success! The audience continued to cheer as she made her way out of the pool of water.
As we moved on in the service, many of us dried tears from our eyes as we continue to feel the emotion of the event. It was absolutely beautiful!!!
What got her to the “splash point”? The cheers of the crowd or the quiet encouragement of her mother and pastor? Feelings of excitement as well as fear must have filled her heart and mind as she proclaimed her commitment to Jesus Christ. I know God was please with this little girl’s brave proclamation and her way of showing she’s all in for Him.
I wonder though how many times I have made great efforts to take steps forward yet I stop with a dip of a toe or a dip of a finger, calling it good and avoiding really being all in?
Am I like Peter and claiming one thing yet allowing my fear to taint my commitment to truly be all in? Today I want people to still see me as all in but not on things of this world but for Jesus Christ. That’s what really matters and my real purpose. I want to know what I have been missing.
What direction will you go? Want to be all in or let fear keep you from finding out what you might be missing? This is a train ride I have waited too long to take. No more hanging out on the platform. No more peering into the the train as it goes by. There is too much at stake to not get on the train.