All Means ALL!

I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge

of Christ Jesus my Lord (Philippians 3:8, NKJV).

There’s nothing better than a serendipitous encounter with the Lord that you realize afterward was a watershed moment in your life. In addition to the obvious one where we meet Christ for the first time in repentance and conversion, we have others along the journey. I had one recently that has brought both excitement and peace, though I have no idea yet where it will lead me.

I was lying in bed, just about to drift off, when I realized God was speaking to me. “Lay it down,” He said. “All of it.”

All of it? All of what?

All of it. That’s what He said; that’s what He meant.

Hanging on to anything in this life—relationships, job, ministry, dreams, possessions, anything—will keep us from clinging solely to Him. You know that; I know that. I knew that when He spoke to me, and yet I resisted by trying to qualify His command.

Have you ever tried to arm wrestle God? Really? How did that work out for you? I’ve tried it several times and haven’t won yet. Still, I looked for a way to make all mean…well, anything but all. But that’s exactly what it means, isn’t it? And so, at last, I agreed. Anything, everything that I might be clinging to instead of Jesus has been laid at His feet—again. (Anyone besides me have to do this periodically?) As a result, I have great peace and a sense of excitement for what may come of it. Most of all, I’m pleased that it brings a deepened awareness and appreciation of His presence.

Lay it down; all of it. He’s the only thing that matters anyway. In light of eternity, everything else is just fluff.