All In
“For we have heard that God is with you.”
Do me a solid, and slow down with me for a minute. Give that first reading another go, Sister.
There shall yet come peoples, the inhabitants of many cities; and the inhabitants of one city shall approach those of another, and say,
“Come! let us go to implore the favor of the LORD"; and, "I too will go to seek the LORD."
Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to implore the favor of the LORD.
Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men of every nationality, speaking different tongues, shall take hold, yes, take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment and say,
"Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."
What would happen if every person we encountered today encountered God through us? What if every person we touched today knew that God was with us? Knew that God found favor with us? Just by the witness of our life?
What if we were THAT good, THAT transformed, THAT in love with Jesus? What if we were THAT Christian? What if we were SO sold out for Jesus, for the Father, and for the Holy Spirit that others couldn't help but encounter Him when they encountered us? What if people KNEW God simply because we were like Him? What if we gave God full access to make us more like Himself?
What if we gave God full access?
What if every Christian gave God full and complete access to their lives? What if nothing was off-limits? What if God could do whatever He wanted through us? What would our faith communities look like? What would we look like as a people? As Christians?
What would happen if every person in our parishes gave God full access? What if the young adult groups gave God full access? Or your LifeTeen leaders? Or the spiritual mothers in your women’s groups? Or every member of your family? What if we all gave God full access?
We have to invite God to transform our lives.
As Christians, we have to be a people who welcome God’s transformation. We have to be CHANGED by encountering Jesus. Otherwise, how will people know of His goodness? We have to be a people who allow ourselves to be IMPACTED by encountering the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, how will people know of His power? We have to be a people who allow ourselves to be CHOSEN by encountering the Father. Otherwise, how will people know of His love?
We have to be a people who believe in the fullness of the Gospel - the cozy parts and the crazy parts, the messy parts and the hopeful parts, the logical solutions and the miracles. We can’t be on the fence...
We have to be all-in.
How else can we expect to change the world? How else can we be a true witness? A light? How else will others know to approach US to find God (like in the first reading)? If we’re not all-in for our faith, how can we expect the world to believe us?
How can we expect others to believe if we’re not sure? How can we expect to see change? If we don’t let God transform us and our communities, how can we expect to bring others to Him?
Girls - we have to have the courage to become Jesus freaks.
There. I said it. We just do. This is a label I’ve been terrified of - FOR YEARS. But lately, I’ve been asking myself: if I’m not witnessing Him, then what am I doing? If I profess to live my life for Him, but I’m not witnessing when I’m uncomfortable - what am I doing? Why am I allowing a label to hold me back?
If I believe in the Gospel, how can I not proclaim it? If I love the Lord, how can I not tell others about Him? I don’t want my weakness and my insecurity and my pride to limit Him anymore. So I’m done caring. I just want to be Jesus to people and to love them like He does.
I want to go all-in all over again.
Let’s jump into the deep end. Let’s do it. Let’s go all-in. Let’s become Christians who fight for their faith and stand up for Christ. Let’s become Christians who love hard and let kindness lead. Let’s not be afraid to say His name at work. Let’s not allow labels to scare us. Let’s witness deep, holy friendships that invite others into communion. Let’s love Him with all we’ve got. Let’s go all-in.
Let’s live so that every person we encounter today encounters God through us.
Father,
Help. This is a big commission, and we can’t do it without grace. Please come and teach us how to give You everything day after day after day after day.
Abba, we love You. Please help us. Please teach us. Give us the courage to care only for what You think of us. Give us the courage to love You will all our hearts, all our minds, and all our strength.
Thank You for generous, compassion love for us. Thank You that You choose us even when we fail to be a witness for You.
Give us eyes to see Your victories and voices to proclaim them.