Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’” [Luke 14:25-30]

Have you ever thought about the conditional nature of our culture?

Everything has strings attached. The warranty is limited. Marriage comes with pre-nuptial agreements. Check the return policy carefully. Always read the fine print. Seems that it’s all about limiting liability and responsibility, setting the terms, and making sure everyone knows where the lines are.

Everything’s conditional.

Then, here’s Jesus with this radical notion: if you want to follow me and be my disciple, you have to be “all-in.”

This passage is frequently misinterpreted because Jesus uses hyperbole to make a point. He’s not instructing us to hate or reject our earthly families, but He is clearly setting priorities. You can’t follow Him conditionally, after other bases are covered. You can’t set aside a limited part of your life for Him, reserving the rest for other important matters.

If you want to follow Him, you’re either all-in or not. No exceptions or exclusions, no lines or limits. No conditions.

I don’t know about you, but I’m not all-in. And I will never get there.

Even as He staked this radical claim, He also knew I’d never be able to honor it. No matter how hard I try, I always hold something in reserve. I retain a safety net, a piece that I control. Even if I want to, I’ll never be 100% all-in.

Sometimes I’m not sure what to make of a situation in which the mark is set impossibly high. I’m tempted to simply give up. If I can’t possibly do what He requires, what’s the use in even trying?

Then I remember grace. God’s standards never change, and if I had to reach them on my own I’d be doomed. But Jesus stepped into my place, did what I never could, and bridged the gap for me. Because He was all-in, my failure and weakness is forgiven.

In Christ, I’m all-in.

A pastor once said it beautifully. When he was asked to explain Christianity in non-church terms, he replied:

Jesus left His place, and came to our place. He took our place, so He could take us to His place.

I want to be all-in. How about you?

Did you enjoy this article? Please leave a comment, visit my website, and/or send me an email at rich@richdixon.net.

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God doesn’t want us simply to sign up. He wants us to show up. Pastor Dary Northrup

I’m kind of a “sound bite” guy when I listen to sermons.

I seem to recall the central points of a message when I can distill them into a single statement. This notion of “signing up vs. showing up” summarizes a lot of thinking about service.

I wrote last week about living a substantial life. It seems like “showing up” might be one mark of substantial living.

Signing up is easy, partly because it focuses on results. Would you like to see an end to childhood hunger? Sure—who wouldn’t? Do the elderly need help with household chores? Obviously. World peace? I’m in!

The same principle works on a personal level. I should spend more time reading scripture. I need to weigh less, eat better, get in shape. All desirable results—pretty much everyone agrees.

Showing up is different. Saturday morning raking leaves for the widow next door interferes with the tee time. Quiet time with God’s word means getting up earlier, and I’m already sleep-deprived. 

Health clubs thrive on this results-focused mentality. Signing up for the membership is easy; showing up each day is a different matter. Substance abuse rehab programs are filled with repeat clients who want the results but don’t know how to show up when it gets hard.

Showing up is about the process, the small steps that feel insignificant in isolation. It requires doing the right things, being the right sort of person, even when the results are uncertain or seem impossibly distant.

I want to follow Jesus. Great—I signed up.

How will my life be different? What commitment will I make to serve when it’s tough, to love someone who’s not very lovable? What sacrifice will I make to show His face in my everyday interactions? How will I show up?

It doesn’t do much good to have a leader who walks on water unless you’re willing to follow in His footsteps.

What’s your take? How do you experience the difference between ‘signing up’ and ‘showing up’?

Did you enjoy this article? Please leave a comment, visit my website, and/or send me an email at rich@richdixon.net. 

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I suspect we’re all feeling a bit overwhelmed by the overwhelming amount of negative news. It’s hard to maintain a positive attitude in the midst of so much despair.

I don’t wish to ignore the very real problems we confront, but I also don’t want to dwell needlessly on doom and gloom. Here are some committments I make to myself.

• I will not focus on problems over which I have no control.
• I will not isolate myself from those who support me.
• I will accept a certain amount of adversity as a normal part of life.
• I will learn from challenges and mistakes.
• I will seek to thrive and not simply survive.
• I will strive to be a light in the darkness.

Any thoughts?

Question: What’s one thing you can do to add light to the darkness?

Please leave a comment, visit my website, and/or send me an email at rich@richdixon.net. 

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