All In!!!!

Recently the first ever Ohio casino opened, that is where I am from, but I kind of feel sad about that.  I never understood gambling. I would have to put my faith in a card, in a pair of dice, or in a quarter.  Dice and cards have no loyalty, and I would be placing my hope in things that can't care for me.  Their masters are their owners which puts the gambler at an even greater disadvantage. I am not going to pretend to understand it, but I know that others say that it is for fun's sake. Friends there are other risks that can be taken than this one, and they yield more of a reward.

I place my bet on the God of the universe who loves me and wants to see me prosper.  As easy as it is for some people to place their faith in a pair of dice, a card, or a quarter  it should not be difficult for me to keep my bet on God.  There are times, however, that I reach out to pull back my faith bet.  What's up with that?  I am not judging anyone but myself here. (Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.)  I know that as I see God working in my life he is bringing me to a place where I have to make the choice to jump in or step back every day.  I have already made the decision to go all in with God, but unlike (or maybe like?  I don't know. I've never done it) gambling I have to continue to make that decision over and over again as other things try to scare or entice me to pull some of my chips back. When this happens the holy spirit reminds me that God went all in for me.  God the son Jesus Christ bet his life on me and in return took up his life as well as mine for the kingdom of God along with anyone else who has believed on him.  Thanks be to God that he extended such a gamble for all of us, but when God bets he knows the outcome. God knows everything, is in control of everything, and is everywhere I go laying out the red carpet for me.  God doesn't miss a beat, he is always ready to play. In fact he makes the beat, the beating of our hearts and rhythm in which we live our lives. 

As I encourage myself I entreat you also.  Don't fall for the traps, lies, and doubts that try so desperately to move us out of purpose and into darkness and confusion.  That is the enemy of our souls trying to keep us from operating in the power of God given to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus and the receiving of his spirit. God is the author and finisher of our faith and he knows where we belong and how to get us there.  God's grace is sufficient for us.  We don't need to hold anything back from God. It all belongs to him anyway, and he just gave us gifts to hold and invest wisely as he instructs us.  We don't need to worry about God not knowing what to do with us or going back on any of his word. He is the creator and visionary for everything, and his word speaks things into being. Image the great things that God has spoken over each of us.  Bet on that!

 Place your bets on the table and go all in with the Lord today and every day.  You don't want to have missed the opportunity to enter into that blessed place with God because in him is the fullness of joy.  When you bet on God you always win.  Don't keep any of yourself back because you don't get a full reward on that. Don't settle for getting a piece of what God has for you. Position yourself to receive all that God has for you, and then bless him with it.  All glory belongs to God. Let all the people of God say, Amen.

Comments

  1. C1FaithNovember 30, 2012 at 2:10 PM

    Wow! I can't believe I wrote this!! All glory to God for allowing me to write what I needed to read!!!

    ReplyDelete

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