All in

A friend recently encouraged me with a passage from Exodus 5-6, which has led me to start reading through Exodus again and begin listening to a sermon series online about being "All in... Life with Jesus isn't easier, but it's better!" This morning I was listening to a sermon and was deeply challenged by God's promise to provide when He calls. Moses uses every excuse... "God, who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?" (3:11) God's response is, "BUT I WILL BE WITH YOU..." He doesn't pat Moses on the head and give him a self-esteem boost, "You'll be just fine. You can do it." He immediately reminds Moses that it is God who will be with him. When we hold to this promise and truth, every excuse we bring to the table really falls short. "I don't want to do this alone." God promises that He is with me. "I miss my friends and long to be back in community with them." God promises that He is with me. And getting past my own self, what about the widowed grandparent who is grieving the loss of their spouse of 60+ years? God promises that He is with him/her. Or the woman who just had a miscarriage, and is mourning the loss of new life. God promises that He will be with her. Or the father who is struggling to find employment to provide for his family. It doesn't mean that life is going to be easier. In fact, I think that often when we put our trust in Jesus and live with our eyes fixed on a heavenly kingdom and not an earthly home, we will face many trials. I would even go as far as to say that if life is always peachy and we're not experiencing any hardship or persecution for being followers of Christ, we need to take a serious look at our lives. I was so blown away and humbled the other day when I read from Paul's epistle to the church in Philippae, "... that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death..." (3:10). The fellowship of his sufferings! Dying to ourselves and having life in Christ! This is not going to be easy, but it's going to be so much better, and so worth it! Am I all in for Jesus? Am I laying my excuses and hesitations at his feet, and hearing Jesus' reminder to me in Matt 28 (the Great Commission), "and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." I want to be all in for Jesus, no holding back.