Go All Out Because You are All In

1 Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Last Sunday was the National Football League Super Bowl Championship game.  Sports teams go all out each season because they are all in with dedication, devotion and desire for preparing and competing to be the best that they individually and collectively can be to play at the top of their game, execute with the highest percentage during every competition, to successfully reach the goal of champion. This concept, principle and practice holds true for individuals and groups in society, and each child of God in the Christian community. Good hard work with enthusiasm pays off. 

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

In a speech on April 23, 1910, President Theodore Roosevelt said: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat”.

You may have messed up your life. What you are doing is not working. Get in the game and go all out! We may have those “Where are you God?” moments in life, but know that God invites in the middle of a life that doesn’t make sense in order for us to trust Him for our now and our future. God is in control. See the Lord’s hand guiding. We are not “players in the game of life” who happen to be a Christian, but a Christian who happens to be players in the game of life. Big difference! Nobody is perfect, but work towards the shift. Look at the Word of God in the Holy Bible. Luke 6:43 says, “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.” This verse is talking about your heart. Jesus died for our sins to give us a new heart that produces good fruit.  

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

God has a purpose and plan for your life, so don’t focus on the inabilities and difficult challenges. Do not be silent and isolated on the sidelines. Foundationally, do everything for Christ’s glory. Trust God and thank Him daily. Follow Him obediently in a relentless, “all out” pursuit because you are “all in”. People often look everywhere for fulfillment except to God. This is sin and sin separates us from the fulfillment in relationship with our heavenly Creator God. If you have not done so yet, repent and turn away from sin and accept the free gift of Jesus Christ’s forgiveness, redemption and salvation. Go all out, because you are all in!

In Christ, Brian