Going all in

So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.” (I Peter 1:15-16)

We are faith-filled risk-takers intent on being holy as our God is holy. Does that describe you? We all come to Christ exactly as we are - none of us is better than any other person - all are able to be faith-filled risk-takers intent on being holy IN CHRIST JESUS. We receive this gift of 'new life' and almost without us realizing it, do you know what God does within us? He 'pulls us into a way of life shaped by god's life'. Now that should make all of us more than just a little bit hopeful, my friends. We have been given a gift we did not deserve, are filled with a faith we could never muster on our own, and we walk anew in a power not our own.

Our part - we put our minds in gear. In other words, we stop living a lazy, haphazard lives that are 'hit and miss' kind of existences. We begin to live purposeful lives that seek to put shame in the past where it belongs and enter into grace in the present because grace is what helps us be 'all in' with Jesus. You know what sets a believer apart? We are known what we stand FOR, not more than what we stand AGAINST. We stand for righteousness. We stand for purity. We stand for love and unity. We stand for hope. In reality, by what we stand FOR we are really standing AGAINST all those things that oppose those things!

With minds in gear, we learn to stand strong. We won't slip back into the darkest parts of our lives if we are engaging our minds in this walk. If we think we can walk 'mindlessly' in this Christian walk, think again. In fact, begin to think like you have never thought before! Faith-filled, risk-taking believers aren't afraid to allow Christ to fill their minds with the messages of hope and peace and joy that he wants to place within the 'walls' of our minds. He also wants to build up those walls with his Word so that we won't just 'mindlessly' entertain any old thought that comes along.

We are 'pulled into' a new life in Christ Jesus. It isn't all that easy for Christ to let go, so don't worry that his grip will slip! We aren't going to stumble and fall when we take risks with Jesus. When we step out in ways he asks us to step out, even when we don't feel like we know how or have the ability to 'go all in' he is there pulling us onward. How many times do we allow our minds talk our hearts out of doing what we know God is asking us to do? If we want to go all in with Christ this year, then our first step will be to begin to engage our minds in this walk like we never have before. Purposefully choosing to follow each step of the way. Just sayin!