No Gimmicks

 

Everyone loves a good free-trial package, but there’s always a catch. In a world that’s filled with so many options, it’s nice to be able to test something out before actually making a commitment. No one wants to get locked into a year-long contract with something that they are not happy with or something that does not fit their needs. But sometimes, even with a “free-trial,” it can wind up costing you in the end.

               When I purchased my truck, it came with a “free-trial” to a subscription-based company. I had used them previously and they had my financial information on file already, so this would just be a short time where I received some extra services and then, I would cancel. During the set-up, the phone conversation was a little-fuzzy and I didn’t really catch all the information, including when the trial would end and how much it would cost after the trial, and therein lies the catch. But I was also in a hurry (after spending hours at the dealership) and I have a little bit of ADHD, so I might have just glossed over it. At any rate, a few months down the road I happen to notice that my credit card bill seemed a little higher than normal, so I took a closer look. What did I find? That “free-trial” actually ended long before I expected it and now I had been on the hook for something that cost way more than I expected and offered some services that I did not need. Gotcha (or got-me)!

Thank goodness that there are no “free-trials,” catches, hooks, or gimmicks in the Gospel. Despite how some may try to wrap the Gospel in shiny paper to make it more appealing, Scripture openly reveals the truth of the Gospel. Not once do we see Jesus promising riches or fame for those who trust in Him. In fact, we see just the opposite: “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John 15.18-19 (ESV) Scripture doesn’t hide the reality or the costs of believing in Christ. It’s completely open and honest about the depth of all that the Gospel demands.

We don’t find Jesus trying to woo us with false promises or cheap grace. He actually tells us what to expect when we respond to His offer of redemption. In talking with a great crowd of people before Him, Jesus doesn’t sweeten the deal to convince these people to follow Him. He lays it all out upfront: “So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14.33 (ESV) Jesus isn’t interested in adding fans or followers. He is interested in creating disciples that understand the expectations of the Gospel and that the rewards of faithfulness are rarely experienced on this earth.

There are no trial-runs in the Kingdom of God. Christianity doesn’t have a catch, Scripture lays it all out for us to consider and respond. Once we have weighed the cost and discovered the value of surrendering our lives to Him, His identity and love compel us to go all in. And because of that, He expects us to boldly jump, unreservedly with both feet, embracing the call that He has given us as His disciples. What is this call He has given us? It’s to, “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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28.18-19 ESV)

Jesus’ command to us here is that we go all in with Him. As we move deeper into 2025, I want to challenge each of us to embrace this call by seeking to reach one person for Christ this year. Each 1 Reach 1!! Don’t worry, you won’t need gimmicks or prizes. Around us lies a world that is filled with hurt and sorrow, looking for some sort of hope, and because of Christ’s grace to us, we have the hope that they are desperately seeking! Just be brave, be bold, and be all-in!!

Are you ready to find your 1?! Let’s do this together!!