To engage life fully, you need to be “all-in.” Consider: have you ever looked at a lamp that blinks off and on? First, you suspect a lightbulb. So, you unscrew it and (to test it) screw it into another lamp. It works! Your mind scans possibilities. Could this be poor wiring inside the lamp? Or the cord. As you follow the cord to the wall, suddenly, you see it. The plug is only half plugged-in. To work, you know it needs to be all-in.
Be “All-In“
To engage life fully is to be “all-in.” This total commitment is to be yourself. Interestingly, it’s not always easy to identify if you’re fully plugged-in.
Sometimes, it helps to look at an opposite idea. Half plugged-In. In other words, not fully engaged.
Half-Plugged-In
Half-heartedness is a Christian’s bane. Frankly, it’s disconnection from God. Very much like the lamp cord half plugged-in. With loose prongs, it slowly wiggles out of a socket over time. Quite literally, that plug hangs connected to the source of power until one wiggle too many. Then it falls out completely and lands far from the power it needs to light up the corner.
You can’t live half plugged-in. Truly, you need to be “all-in.” Half plugged-in doesn’t give you strong connection to power you need. God wants you either hot or cold for Him. Actually, God detests lukewarm. “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of My mouth.” (Rev. 3:16)
This is a good picture of how Jesus followers sometimes end up.
Another Example
Another example of solid connection for effective living is a secure connection to the internet. This is especially critical when sending sensitive, confidential information. It means isolating any threats. A strong firewall keeps the good in and the bad out.
Equally, you need protection around your heart and mind. In other words, being “all-in.” Just like your technology operates efficiently and dependably when it’s got a good connection, so you function best when you are fully connected to God.
Scripture says, “. . . your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:3)
This means – nicely tucked-in. Covered. Safe. Secure. “All-in.”
Plugged-In
So, we talked about half-plugged-in. Now, what does it look like to be fully plugged-in?
God created you to plug in – to engage your full self. Additionally, to be “whole-hearted,” not divided. You can’t live half for God and half for yourself. God’s plan requires you to be “all-in” for Him. It’s a choice. All or nothing. Hot or cold. Not lukewarm.
The original human design means surrender your –
- Entire person to Christ.
- Also, your goals.
- Add to that, your desires.
- Plus, your dreams.
- Radically, to live for God’s interests over your own. (Phil. 2:21)
- Unbelievably, to live delighted in God’s purpose for your life.
It may surprise you that God transforms surrender – living sacrifice – into credible power in this broken, needy world. Why? Simply, because you are “all-in” – connected to Jesus, the power source.
Naturally, with Jesus central in your heart, this also keeps you properly connected to yourself. The person God designed.
Why not discover your own influence and power? Frankly, you can leave a powerful mark on this broken world. So, why not be all-in?
Be All-In. God Loves You: 7 Proofs
The reason you can be plugged in – “all in” – is because God loves you very much. Incidentally, He made a way for you to have relationship with Himself. Plus, He’s invited you.
Let’s explore 7 proofs of His love for you:
1. Jesus Is Your Covering
Jesus covers you with God’s love and fills all the cracks in your life. God’s love is poured out on you. It forms a buffer that, if removed, would leave you exposed, vulnerable, and deeply wounded. You don’t know that reality because God has never removed His love. But if He ever did, you wouldn’t believe the awful reality! (Perhaps that is what hell is.)
God’s love pours over every issue in your life and trickles down into the cracks and crevices of all that is unfinished and imperfect.
Jesus is your Covering.
2. Jesus Is Your Sacrifice
Jesus faced every kind of temptation and trial you do – without sin. He knows how hard life is. He died in your place to spare you from punishment. That elevates Him to the highest position.
Also, it lifts you up, because this up-close investment of His life in the human condition – your condition – proves Jesus wants to share your life in every detail.
The incredible bonus – He wants you to share in His life in every detail. Jesus lifted away the consequences of sin so you could be intimately close to God.
Jesus is your Sacrifice.
3. Jesus Is Your Great High Priest
Jesus, Himself, carried His own blood through the heavens into the real tabernacle. The fact that He did this, as only the Great High Priest could, further demonstrates His love for you. He reverently entered God’s holy place straight through into the Holy of Holies. Upon entering, He boldly walked to the altar and presented His own life blood to God as atonement for your sins – for all sins of all people in all centuries. (Heb. 9:11-12)
Jesus is your Great High Priest.
4. Jesus Is Your Great Lover
Because of His unconditional love for you, Jesus lived His life in the trenches like you do, suffering and going through painful experiences. He managed conflicts, daily grind, losses, and troubles – like you must – but perfectly and without sin. As your dearest Friend, He wants to help with your struggles and sorrows.
Jesus is your Great Lover.
5. Jesus Is Your Door To God’s Great Heart
Jesus opened a door for you to approach Him any time, about anything in your life. You can approach Him at all times. Reach back from your heart by faith to His great heart. Also, remember Scriptures about God’s love.
Jesus is your Door to God’s great heart.
6. Jesus Is Your Balm
God’s love covers all your life conditions. There is no sin, illness, loss, torment, or sorrow the love of God does not address. His love drowns out all screaming voices and calms the storm of every life situation. His whisper overpowers the noisy world. It calms you. Covers your sins. Provides in your illness. Comforts in your sorrows. Fills the holes of your losses.
Jesus is your Balm.
7. Jesus Is Your Full Provider
The Creator designed you with needs, and He intends to meet them. Jesus cares about your needs: hunger, thirst, sleep, stress, companionship, encouragement, finances, courage, good health – all part of the template of being human. You were created to depend on God as He meets your needs. (Phil. 4:19)
Jesus is your full Provider.
You can trust Jesus. With a sincere, humble heart. Live in God’s strong love.
Compromise Threatens Engaging Your Full Self
Sadly, living half plugged-in – not “all in” – opens the door to danger and compromise. To compensate, you begin to –
- Participate in worldly pride and boasting.
- Also, dibble and dabble in unhealthy activities. It can be so unintentional.
- Function with a lack of focus.
- Frankly, notice a touch of laziness.
- Finally, notice moments of “I don’t care.”
Compromise Is Dangerous
Additionally, these things can happen when compromise sneaks in:
- Forget your debt to a self-sacrificed Savior.
- Lose the idea you are a servant of God.
- Then, gratitude begins to slip off.
- Additionally, mediocrity squeezes in.
- Sadly, partnership with God is no longer in your mind.
- Unthinkably, a disconnect from the love of Christ.
Summary
God will lift you up. (Jas. 4:10) if you securely connect to Jesus. So, love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Of course, this includes your time, energy, priorities, provisions, friends, and family.
No matter how many years you may have known Jesus, there is always something you can recommit to Him.
Application Thoughts And Questions
- Are you “all-in?”
- Do you take God’s love seriously?
- What steps will you take to invite the transforming work of God’s Spirit?
- Do you need to let go of something too important to you? What is that something?
- What simple changes will you make today to have an effective testimony to others around you?
- Do you apply the 7 proofs of God’s love? Jesus is your –
-
- Covering.
- Sacrifice.
- Great His Priest.
- Great Lover.
- Door to God’s Heart.
- Balm.
- Full Provider.
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* Portions of this content come from my book – e-Pistles For An i-
Generation Relevant In A Digital Age – a devotional book that takes you through 1 and 2 Corinthians. ALSO – from my book Shadows of Things To Come – a study in Hebrews. In both books, you’ll find practical action points that help you know God better and nurture personal growth. You can find these books in our bookstore: www.aliveandactivelife.org/store.
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