All In

Last Sunday, Dad preached a sermon about Jesus being "all in".  What was he "all in" for?  Us.  Just like the nation of Israel missed the Messiah because he didn't conquer Rome, I believe I miss him because I'm looking for him in the wrong way too.  I want Jesus to be Superman.  I want him to take over the world in a physical sense.  I want him to put leaders in place who would lead like him.  Oh, wait, his leading was so different than what I'm thinking.  When I think of a leader who would lead like Jesus, I'm thinking of the Superman Jesus, not the real life Jesus.  What would it look like if we did have a leader like the real life Jesus?  Hmm...makes me think.  Then I realize, maybe I am called to lead like Jesus.  What does that look like?  Not someone who takes over the world or even is overly zealous about my beliefs.  Instead, it is the man who spoke truth and loved everyone where they were, who was "all in" for the world, even when all of his followers ran.  He came to redeem us, not to take over the world.  Oh, what being loved while we are still sinners does for our broken lives!  I pray that I can be "all in" as Jesus was, for the sake of others.  Changed people change people.

Clyde Teel's Sermon on Jesus being "all in"