All In & All for Him
/“The end of ALL things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above ALL, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in EVERYTHING God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:7-11, ESV)
This passage starts with these eight words…
“The end of all things is at hand…”
All means all, and that’s all all means.
We are one day closer today to the end of our time here in our temporary home. Whether we make our exit by death or by the second coming of Christ, the end of ALL things is at hand.
And yet, we are entering in to a new season. Spring is upon us, and it signifies new life.
How do we reconcile the two? Might I encourage you to start by being all in and live your days out on this earth all for Him!
Let’s not let Holy Week come and go without letting it change us first. So on the heels of the sacredness of Lent, the heaviness of Holy Week, and the rejoicing on Resurrection Sunday, I’d love to challenge us with this:
Be ALL in — in ALL things, ALL our days, and in ALL ways!
As we watch the world around us wake up and burst forth, let’s allow the Holy Spirit to continue the new work He started in us.
Let’s awaken to this newness of life and the beauty it holds, while also staying aware of the signs of the times and the reality that our earthly life is so incredibly short in light of eternity.
Holy Week made a way for us to hold the tension of the two…
“God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8, ESV)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, ESV)
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.’” (John 11:25, ESV)
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)
“And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’” (Revelation 21:5, ESV)
Prophecy was fulfilled so we can trust His promises.
The way was made so we can stay in relationship with Him and be remade through the resurrecting power of Jesus Christ.
Let’s not slip back into old habits, but rather let’s walk confidently in the new life we have in Christ.
It is a life full of freedom, joy, faith, hope, love, and ALL the things a life in Christ brings.
And I’ll say a few things about that last thing I mentioned. Actually, I’ll let Paul say a few things. These words are found in his letter to the church at Corinth. As he encouraged them to love one another, in all the ways, God calls us to love…
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, ESV)
Love bears, believes, hopes, and endures what?
You got it — ALL things!
All in & all for Him! To God be the glory!