Giving All

   A baseball player spends hours in the batting cage to improve his ability to hit the ball more often and further.  Pitchers and catchers spend hours watching films of their opponents to better pitch to them and increase the chances of striking them out.  People sometimes say they are giving 110% to the game.

   An employee who works to achieve what others have been unable to accomplish is praised for the nights and weekends put into the effort.  They are said to have “given it their all”.

   Do we give 110% to our spiritual life?  Are we giving it our all to better know, love and serve our God?  If not, why not?  Our place in eternity is of far greater value than hitting a baseball or getting the job done at work.  Yet it seems this type of effort isn’t as prevalent in faith as in other aspects of our life.

   I think part of the reason for not giving all to our faith life is fear.  We are afraid of finding that God wants more of us than we want to give.  He wants all of us, not just the portion we are willing to offer.  God wants us to be with Him every day of our lives, not just on Sunday.  His will for us requires more than a partial effort on our part.  It requires that we give Him our all; 110% of our effort.

   We shouldn’t expect Christianity to be a part time calling.  Jesus gave us His all, not just for one or two days a week but everyday of His life.  The apostles gave up the life they knew to live one of evangelization, persecution and death for the kingdom of God.  Throughout history many have given their lives rather than deny their faith.  They truly gave their all to God.

   We need to sit with the bible; study it; pray about it.  We need to sit with God; listen to Him; ask what he wants of us and be prepared to accept His answer.  There is nothing of more benefit to us than to learn God’s will and choose to follow it.  This is the relationship with God that will change your life and perhaps the world.

   “And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.” (Matt 19: 29)