Are You All In?

“For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.” Romans 14:8The landscape of commitment has turned over the years. There are a number of people who choose not to be in committed relationships. Because of that choice they are choosing to forgo the conventional method (e.g. adhering to old or accepted customs) of society like marriage. They would rather be friends with benefits than to be all in. Some might take offense to such terms but it is a phrase adopted by many who do. Here is what is unfortunate: We exercise the same kind of behavior when it comes to God. You enjoy spending time with Him but the relationship is one-sided often looking for what He can do for you rather than what you can give to Him.When you received Christ you received new birth, you were born again and in that acceptance you made a commitment to live and die for Him. That means you chose to be all in and in being all in the relationship becomes reciprocal. Because of what God has done we feel compelled to serve Him. God keeps His part but do we keep ours?Being in a relationship with God is a relationship of commitment. We essentially are becoming one with Him, “to have and to hold”. And it is in that oneness that our choice whether we live or die is to Him. It is an abiding presence. He lives in us an we live in Him “we are the Lord’s”.