“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength…” Mark 12:30

Hokey Pokey

You remember the hokey pokey. “You put your right foot in, you take your right foot out, you put your right foot in, and you shake it all about; you do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around; that’s what it’s all about!” I thought it was fun, until we had to do it on skates at the rink. I wasn’t great on skates.

Is that how we live our Christian lives? First we’re in, then we’re out, then we’re in AGAIN, but we’re just play-acting the life. Insincere. Can’t make up our minds about God, about Jesus, about the Holy Spirit. Not really committed to His Word or His ways, or even what’s best for us. Around and around we go, back and forth, waffling.

That’s what it’s all about? Playing a game? Keeping our options open? Pulling back when the comfort zone disappears? Disconnecting from the commitment to be all in, when sometimes it’s easier to back out? 

It’s less complicated to be uncommitted, isn’t it? Easier to decline what we’re being asked to do. Easier to stay home, keep to ourselves. Golly, if we step out, we might come across a needy, beat up, hurting person! Better cross to the other side of the road, just in case.

Forgive my sarcasm—I’m talking to my own self here. 

For a long time I lived in God’s will, then out, then in again. I thought it was okay. God’s easy, right? Choices were based on what felt good or seemed right at the time. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12).

The Hound of Heaven wouldn’t allow my non-commitment to continue. He drew me right out of that place, because He had something better for me. He wanted to do more in me. He wanted to use me more. He wanted to give me more of Himself: fullness, abundance, satisfaction, presence, vision—so many things I never knew existed. I didn’t know what I was missing. 

There comes a day when we have to fish or cut bait. No more hokey pokey. No more having one foot in the heavenly kingdom and one in the world. No more serving both myself and God, the flesh and the Spirit. No turning back. I have DECIDED. The matter is settled. 

No matter what music is playing, I’m singing a new song. The old has passed away. All things are become new. Both feet are firmly planted in life with Jesus, come what may.

“Father, enable us all to make the decision that pleases You. Take us out of that game we play, and plant us in those green pastures by that still water. And THANK YOU for getting us off the merry-go-round. Amen.”