My title for this devotion is Complete vs Partial.

There is a saying that became popular a few years ago. It popped up in a song. It still comes up occasionally today:

All gave some; some gave all.

That was used of the military personnel who served our country. It was even used of their families. Every soldier and every family gave part of themselves to the effort. Some soldiers and some families gave all-their lives. The soldier gave his life; the family gave their husband or wife, son or daughter.

The calling of Elisha was an interesting read. Small but powerful and effective. It is found in I Kings 19:19-21. Elijah must find a successor- one he can pass the mantle to. His choice is Elisha. In just a few verses we find out what kind of man Elisha was:

• Elisha walked by and put his mantle on Elisha.
• Elisha was plowing his father’s field.
• Elisha asked to go back and kiss his father and mother.
• Elisha killed the oxen then gave the food to the people.
• Elisha followed Elijah.

There’s a story about an ancient leader who landed then burned the ships behind his crew. There would be no retreat. Elisha sacrificed the oxen, essentially saying, “I’m not coming back.”

I started thinking about those who follow Jesus. All give some; some give all. Some like the idea of being a Christ-follower but hesitate surrendering all. Others go all in. They kill their oxen. They burn their boats. They surrender all. Like Elisha, they are “all in.”

What about me? What about you? Am I willing to go all in? Are you?

“Father, you want to be more than Father. You also want to be Lord. You want to rule my heart. You want to see me relinquish all to You. You don’t want me to be part of the crowd that says, ‘I gave some.’ You want me to part of the ‘same gave all’ crowd.  How about we do that today and take that step?”