Are You All In?

When it comes to doing the things you have to do each day, your job or caring for children, whatever your particular obligations happen to be, how often are you tempted to cut corners? Do you see an opportunity, and think to yourself, "I wonder if I could get away with that?" Back in 1986, at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, engineers ran a test on Reactor No. 4 to simulate power loss. But to keep things moving quickly, they disabled key safety systems, ignored warning signs, and violated standard procedures. Things did indeed move quickly. Within seconds, the reactor exploded. Two workers died immediately, dozens of first responders died of radiation sickness, over 300,000 people were displaced and there were widespread long-term health effects, including cancer, birth defects and mental disorders. All because people cut corners. A good many people in this world profess to believe in the God who sent His Son Jesus into this world. But let's be honest, following Jesus, living our lives the way He lived His … man, that's hard work. So, many think to themselves, what can I get away with? What corners can I cut? The Apostle Paul, on the other hand, saw things differently: Galatians 2:19-20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (NRSV) You see, Paul was all in. Might I ask you today, are you constantly looking for corners to cut, or are you all in? I have been crucified with Christ; it's no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.