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Rejoice

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We have a phrase to describe being committed…   we say we are ‘giving 100%’ or we are ‘giving it our all’, or we are ‘all in’. 

Sometimes, when we use the phrase, we are simply describing our investment in something we love but which may not really ‘cost’ us much in the grand scheme of our lives like:

“we really went all in on decorating for Christmas this year”. 

“he really gave 100% during that backyard football game”.

“she really gave it her all caroling around the neighborhood last night”.

Sometimes, when we use the phrase, we are describing the BIG important decisions and endeavors, the costs of which shape our lives:

“I’m all in on taking this promotion and moving to a new city”.

“she gave it her all for years and it paid off…   she auditioned and got the lead role”.

“We are giving 100% to start this local non-profit”. 

But, how often do we say it about the biggest, most important dimension of our lives: our relationship with God?

Sadly, most of us, most of the time, are giving our ‘all’, our 100%, to lots of different things that, as valuable as they might be, are just temporary destinations on our life’s journey. Worse, we leave the most important thing 'under-funded': there is a God who loves us and has promised to be with us now and forever.

Love is not one-sided, commitment is not one-side, promise is not one-sided…   all of these things can only be experienced in relationship. Sure, we can be safe (for the moment) in life without God, but we can never really be secure. Sure, we can be happy (for the moment) in life without God, but we can never really experience a deep abiding joy. Sure, we can be prosperous (for the moment) in life without God, but we can never really experience the fullness of life without God.

The reason we often don’t give 100% to our relationship with God is because it really costs a lot...   all the time. It is a continual sacrifice. When we love, commit, and make promises to God, we must do so with our very lives.  We must choose God’s ways over our own individual, personal, priorities not once in awhile…   but always and everywhere. We pretty much have to say: “I’m 100% committed to this relationship God, I’m all in, and I’m going to give it my all”.

John the Baptist was someone who did just this. He had a thriving ministry with lots of disciples but, when Jesus came, he deferred everything to Jesus, calling him “greater”. John continued to live for God in faith and truth, and was imprisoned for it. Giving his life to a relationship with God cost him EVERYTHING. And when he was at a low-point, and maybe started to doubt the decisions he had made, John reached out to Jesus for reassurance:

When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.” (Matthew 11:2-6)

John could rest assured that his commitment to God was not in vain. He could rest assured that the 100% he gave was worth every bit. John could rejoice in the fulfillment of God’s love, God’s promise, and God’s presence.

During this Advent season may we experience the rejoicing that comes with the mutually fulfilled love, commitment, and promise we share with God in Jesus.