I’m a dad of a 5, 4 and 1 year old. If you have been around kids for any length of time, you know how they like to rationalize things. In their questioning, they try to avoid doing a certain task or they will be so persistent until they get what they want.
Last night, taco Thursday in the Coache house (best night of the week), I gave my son Brady the option between corn and cut up tomatoes as I was making his plate. The normal kid would pick corn right?! Isn’t that your first thought? It was my first thought as well. But no, Brady picked tomatoes.
Towards the end, Brady finished his taco. He wanted more. However, those tomatoes were still on his plate. “Brady, you can have more when you finish your tomatoes.” It was four little chunks. “All of it Dad?” I shook my head in confirmation. After two minutes three were on his plate. Brady- “Can I be done?” Dad- “No, you have to eat all of it!” Brady- “Can I be done if I eat one more?” Dad- “NO! All of it.”
After another two minutes I found out he still had four pieces to eat because he was hiding one of them. I said, “Brady, you have to eat all of them. This is not an option. You will get a punishment and no dessert if you choose to ignore me. ” I couldn’t have been more clear. How does he respond? “Dad, if I eat three can I be done?”
At that point I lost it and said “When I say all I mean all, I mean, EAT ALL THE TOMATOES!” I also explained that he had three minutes to eat them and after that he would get a time out and after that there would be other consequences.
He knew I was serious. He then ate all four in a matter of a minute and then ate some candy corn. I about fell off my chair in amazement.
“God, do I have to be kind to her?”
Or let's be real honest here…
“That person smells, that person has been mean to me, that person is Muslim, that person is gay, that person was mean to my kid, that person is a democrat, that person is… do I really have to be kind and share your love with them?”
Through the pages of Scripture, I feel like God is yelling, “When I say ALL I mean ALL!!!!!”
Think about these verses:
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever (all, everyone) believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 *parenthesis added by me
“and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” 2 Cor. 5:15
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16
“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:32
“For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” Romans 10:13
“For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” Col. 1:19-20
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people…” Gal. 6:10A
As I typed these verses, I could feel God making it real clear to me again. He died for everyone! This is not to be questioned. It is not to be reasoned away. He died for everyone. You included. No one, no matter the magnitude of their sin, racial status, sexual orientation, economic status, is outside of God’s grace.
Think about your efforts for the gospel. Think about those you show kindness to. Does it communicate an all-inclusive gospel message? Do you only target people you are comfortable with?
How can we all better live out this all-inclusive gospel message? Can you think of a sin Jesus didn’t die for? We can’t.
Written by Jason Coache, Lead Pastor of Wellspring Church
