All In

Have you been keeping your distance from Jesus?  Do you believe he is the Son of God but you just don't want to get too close?  You don't want to go 'all in'?  You don't want to have to give up things you enjoy?

Many of us are like Zacchaeus.  When he found out that Jesus was coming, he really wanted to see Jesus so he ran ahead and climbed into a tree to get over the heads of the crowd.  He didn't fight through the crowd so he could get close to Jesus.  He kept his distance.

But that's not how it works with Jesus.  When he saw Zacchaeus, Jesus looked right at him and said, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately.  I must stay at your house today.' So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly, " Luke 19:5  Getting close to Jesus changed Zacchaeus' life forever.

And that is what we need to do if we want to experience the love and joy of a relationship with Jesus.  We need to get up front and personal with him.  Get out of our trees.  Get out of our old habits and traditions.

 The only way to genuinely know Jesus is to go 'all in'.

That's my story.  I had a close relationship with Jesus as a child but wandered as a young adult.  Then I came back to church but stayed on the sidelines - enjoying the benefits of a spiritual family but not taking my relationship with God too seriously.

I knew I was on the right track but inside I was miserable and empty.  When God challenged me to put him first in my life, I felt I had nothing to lose so I went for it.  That's when I found the love, grace, joy peace and purpose I was looking for.  It was almost immediate.

I didn't have to give up things I liked.  I took some things out of my life because I didn't want them anymore.  The things I like have gradually changed the closer I've gotten to God.
 
And the closer to God I get, the easier it is to hear him speak and see him move.  It just keeps getting better.

If you've been been keeping your distance from Jesus,

you have no idea what you are missing.

God is challenging you today to go 'all in'.