What does it mean to be “all in?”
Simply put, it’s wholehearted commitment, holding nothing back. Giving – or being prepared to give – all of one’s energy and focus toward something. On the flip side, when you’ve gone “all out,” you’ve put every ounce of effort into it, “leaving it all on the field” as my coaches used to tell me.
In Matthew’s Gospel, the Pharisees approached Jesus and, in an attempt to test Him, asked Him which command in the law He considered the greatest.
Quoting the Shema, a Jewish prayer found in Deuteronomy 6, Jesus answered them by saying, “Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, with ALL your soul, and with ALL your mind.”
In his book, All In, Mark Batterson writes the following manifesto:
- Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death.
- Set God-sized goals.
- Pursue God-ordained passions.
- Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention.
- Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God.
- Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution.
- Stop repeating the past and start creating the future.
- Stop playing it safe and start taking risks.
- Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences.
- Enjoy the journey.
- Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can.
- Live like today is the first day and the last day of your life.
- Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshiping what’s right with God.
- Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails.
- Don’t let fear dictate your decisions.
- Take a flying leap of faith.
- Quit holding out. Quit holding back.
- Push all of your chips to the middle of the table.
- It’s time to ante up all of your faith.
- It’s time to go all in.
- It’s time to go all out.
It’s time, Church. It’s time.