All + In = Blessing

That was the title of my message last week. Math was just a theme. Jesus was all in and he asks us to be all in. But instead we like to play hokey-pokey.
You remember that song/game at the skating rink. You put your right foot in, you put your right foot out you put your right foot in and you shake it all about…I know you’re singing it right now (with a smile on your face). You just put your foot, hand, arm whatever over the line and you pull it right back out. That’s what it’s all about hokey-pokey right?

Playing hokey-pokey with Jesus is similar. It’s when we commit just a little bit but not all, only enough to meet the bare minimum or so we think. We commit enough to get the get-out-of-hell-free-card for that last day but not enough for us to be any different “why spoil the fun?” “I can have my cake and eat it too,” so we think. God’s blessing must equal his love so I’m O.K. right?

Wrong!

Hear me first God’s love is unconditional

Did you hear that?

God’s Love is unconditional!

However, God’s blessing is very conditional.

God’s blessings include if then statements. “If you love me (then) you will keep my commands” “Abram go to the place I will show you (then) I will… Do you see it? If…then. Jesus after restoring Peter and letting Peter know it responded to Peter’s question regarding John and his fate said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, (then) what is that to you? You must follow me." John 21:22 NIV
“What is that to you?” What does it matter what I have in store for him? What matters is you must follow me. Have you been caught in the trap complaining about how someone else was not acting very Christ-like towards you or at you? How they did not do what was right? How someone else with more faith would have…something. How do you think Jesus would answer your complaint? How did He answer Peter’s complaint?

Hummmmmmm?

I think the conversation might go something like:
JESUS: “What are you doing about it? How have you acted like me? Have you been a servant? Have you turned the other cheek?”
ME/YOU: [with as much whine in your voice as possible] O.K. O.K. enough, enough, but why does it always have to be me?
JESUS: “That’s what it is to love your neighbor as yourself. You go first. I did.”
ME/YOU: “Oh yeah… that’s right.”
JESUS: “Are you all in?”
ME/YOU: “Absolutely Jesus amen.” [Fist pumping high in the air]
JESUS: “Really, it looks more like hokey-pokey to me?”

All + In = Blessing