All In! – June 29, 2025

One key truth: When God calls us to faith and therefore calls us to service, he wants us to respond with “all in” commitment and obedience in our Christian lives.

So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”
“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”
So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.
1 Kings 19:19-21

All In!

Have you ever heard someone say they’re “all in”? Whether it’s sports, music, a relationship, or training for something tough—being “all in” means giving everything. No halfway. No backup plan.

That’s exactly what Elisha did. He was out farming with twelve teams of oxen—probably a sign his family was pretty well-off—when Elijah walked up and threw his cloak over him. That was the prophet’s way of saying, “God’s calling you.” Elisha didn’t ask for a week to think it over. He burned his plowing equipment, sacrificed his oxen, and said goodbye to his family. He was all in.

When God called you at your baptism, he didn’t just give you a name—he gave you a new identity. A forgiven child of God. A mission. And a calling to live differently.

Being “all in” today might not mean walking away from a farm, but it does mean walking away from things that compete with God in your life. It means choosing what’s right, even when it’s hard. It might mean saying no to things your friends say yes to. It might mean exploring whether God is calling you into ministry. Or simply asking: “How can I use my time, skills, and relationships to serve Jesus today?”

Jesus went all in for you. He gave up everything—heaven, comfort, even his life—so you could be free from guilt and full of purpose. Now, out of gratitude, we get to live like people who are all in for him.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for going all in to save me. Forgive me for the times I’ve held back or put other things before you. Help me live with focus and purpose as I follow you each day. Amen.