Are You ALL IN?

As some of you may know, last year I participated in my first (and thus far, only) sprint triathlon. It was a super-charged event, leaving me with a feeling of incredible accomplishment. I will admit, the training was hard and time-consuming. Just about every day I was running or cycling or swimming or doing a combination of any one of them. There were times when I wanted to give up. But I knew the only way I would ever be able to complete the race was to be consistent, to train hard, to give it my all, to be all in.

Such is the way it is in life. No one ever accomplishes anything of significance being half-hearted. Whether in athletics or academics, relationships or business, success comes to those who wholeheartedly invest their time and energy and effort—to those who give it their all; to those who are all in.

Deuteronomy 6:5 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” (NIV – emphasis mine) The word “all” speaks of everything, totality, nothing left out. The command is God’s call to his people to be “ALL IN” in their relationship with him—no half-heartedness, no duplicity. God’s people are to be “ALL IN” with him, loving him with their entire being. After all, it’s the only way for anyone to truly experience his blessing upon their life—and to become a blessing to others.

This is our church’s theme for this year of ministry: “ALL IN.” We have t-shirts, key chains, and car magnets that say, “ALL IN.” The headings on our bulletins and on our Connection Cards have the graphic that says, “ALL IN.” And, I’m now preaching a sermon series based off of our theme, “ALL IN.” The hope is that our congregation will be reminded that God calls us as individual believers and as a church to be “ALL IN” with him—first of all loving him with everything that is within us, that we might be “successful” in living as his people and know his blessing upon our lives.

And, I want to remind you today that just as in all other arenas of life, if you’re going to grow in your relationship with God and fulfill his purposes for your life, you must be “ALL IN” with him. No half-heartedness. No duplicity. Nothing left out. That begins with loving him completely. It means giving him your all as you trust him with your life and future. It means consistently investing yourself into getting to knowing him and living as he would have you live. As you do, you will experience his blessing upon your life—and become a blessing to the world around you.