“It’s all-or-nothing!”
There are some situations that necessitate this mentality of ‘risking everything’ or ‘accepting no less than everything’ (Merriam-Webster).
One such situation is being a Christ follower.
In places where a person could be persecuted for being a Christian, being so is not taken lightly. The cost is counted, the heart is surrendered, and the determination is committed. This echoes Luke 12:30, which records Jesus as saying, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (NIV letter L in Do LAPS!). That command, echoing Deuteronomy 10:11-12, describes an all-or-nothing mindset.
The apostle Paul lived this all-or-nothing mentality both before and after surrendering to Jesus. He was determined to live fully in line with his beliefs. Thank God, truly, that Jesus rescued Paul. Paul then lived with zeal in light of the gospel truth. The early church gained much wisdom and encouragement from this man of God.
With love, mercy, and wisdom that overflowed from God the Father, Paul fully invested in the individuals he discipled. Because he knew the power, forgiveness, and truth of Jesus, Paul desperately wanted his fellow believers to continue in sincere worship and love and service and discipleship. In the name of Jesus and for the glory and honor of God, Paul encouraged the followers of Jesus to be steadfast in truth. He wanted them to live out an all-or-nothing faith.
Paul wrote as such to his Christian brothers and sisters in Colosse: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:6-7 NIV, letter S in Keep on Track Volume 2).
Having received Christ Jesus as Lord, let’s take Paul’s encouragement to heart.
Related to our faith, each of us needs to ask:
Do I continue to live my life in Christ? Am I rooted in him? Am I being built up in him? Am I being strengthened in the faith? Am I continuing in the knowledge of God and the truth of the gospel? Am I overflowing with thankfulness to Christ?
With regard to growing in godliness, each of us needs to ask:
How am I living out my life in Christ? How am I being rooted in him? How am I being built up in him? How am I being strengthened in the faith? How am I continuing to learn God’s truths? How do I demonstrate thankfulness to Christ?
As Paul reminds us Christians, you “have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3 ESV).
Let’s stay hidden in Christ by seeking him, not running from him.
Use a Keep on Track Heart Training book to help you stay rooted and be built up in Christ each day!