Trust in the Lord will ALL your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, in ALL your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.
A familiar passage for many of us and one often quoted as words of encouragement to those of us who are facing times of uncertainty. To me, this passage of Scripture is simple in its instruction yet profound in its application. Why? Because of that simple little three letter word ALL. There are many other ALL passages in Scripture that are equally as challenging in the way of life application, as this one is. Take James 1:2-4
, which says to consider it ALL joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Or Mark 12:30, and you shall love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, and with ALL your mind, and with ALL your strength. Consider also Joshua 1:8 which says; This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to ALL that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. WOW! That’s a power packed ALL passage with quite the challenge to us as believers. However, if the truth were known, most of us will never know the power and promise of God because of this small little three letter word ALL. Like the story of Ananias in Acts chapter 5, we hold back a little for ourselves, of ourselves, to control. A little of our hearts so that we can harbor malice, anger, and resentment, like it was within our right to do so. A little of our minds, to entertain thoughts and beliefs that allow our flesh justification for it’s action. A little of our strength so that we can glory in our accomplishments, as if God truly needs us to do His work. We act as if God asking for all is somehow a greedy or controlling request so we relinquish a little here, a little there depending on the size of our trust and God matches it with equal, if not greater amounts of Himself until He can convince us of His true intent. (Like He should have to) Which is that goodness and loving-kindness should follow us ALL the days of our lives. That’s an ALL we don’t seem to have a problem with.
When Christ became nothing, He gave ALL of Himself to the task of redeeming mankind. God asks nothing of us that He was unwilling first to give for us. The cost, however, is the same for us as it was for Him, death to the flesh. ALL the flesh! As the refrain of a famous old hymn states, Jesus paid it ALL, ALL to Him I owe. Though we owe Him everything, He will not rip our life out of our hands. You must be willing to surrender it ALL to Him, but when you do expect ALL of Him in return.
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