All-In Love

[Jesus said,] All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21:4)

As Jesus watched, people put their financial offerings into the collection containers at the temple. As the rich dropped their numerous, heavy coins, the resulting sound would signal to all within earshot that this was a person who gave a lot. In comparison to the gifts of the rich, the sound of the two small coins of the poor widow would have barely made a sound. Yet Jesus sees, hears and knows that this woman has given all that she has. She is all in.

Though the gifts of the rich were larger, they were only a small fraction of the total wealth possessed by these givers. The rest they kept for themselves.

Our attitudes toward money often reveal what is going on in our hearts. For some, money is security, for others it is power, and for other people view it as freedom. And then, because we crave what we think that money will give us, we fracture our hearts, minds and lives into a “God” section and a “me” section, and we retain the right to decide what goes in God’s domain and what stays in ours.

Jesus is inviting us to let Him put the many pieces of our life back together so we can live an authentic life with Him.

He has gone all in for us to make this happen. Holding nothing back, Jesus set aside His divine power and glory to become human like we are. Fully connected to His and our heavenly Father, Jesus only did and said what His Father directed Him to say and do. He willingly joined His life to His Father’s to show us what an authentic human life is really like.

And then, in an act of pure love, Jesus laid down His one, perfect human life for you. Holding nothing back, Jesus gave all that He had so you could know that you have a God who is with you, loves you and will make all things right in the end.

Jesus’ all-in love helps us to realize that we don’t have to hold anything back to provide, protect or preserve our life because He is carrying us.

Jesus and His love helps us to live an integrated, authentic life with lightness of spirit and a heart full of joy.

Dear Jesus, please heal my divided heart and help me to trust that You are carrying me through life and You will make all things work out right in the end. Amen.