What Does Everything Mean To You?

I saw this commercial the other day. “What does ‘everything’ mean to you?”, asked Samuel L. Jackson for Capital One.

Now, for the record, I am NOT endorsing Capital One OR Samuel L. Jackson. But the commercial caught my ear.

I think sometimes we forget what the word “everything” really means.

We are told to not worry about anything, “but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6 ESV)

There’s the word, everything. Pray about everything, worry about nothing.

Here’s another word for us. “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV)

In everything. Can we agree with Mr. Jackson’s definition? Can we agree with God’s?

The word declares we can receive God’s bountifully supply in everything, so we can always be generous. 2 Corinthians 9:11

Oh, we agree with Mr. Jackson with that verse!

But what about these…?

Do everything without complaining and arguing… (Philippians 2:14 NLT)

Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals. Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Psalm 150:5-6 NLT)

We’re instructed to: not complain or grumble about anything. Test everything and let go of evil. Look to the Spirit to teach us and remind us. About every thing!

And if you’re breathing, praise God!

You see, “everything” to God means every problem has an answer, every word of wisdom we need will be supplied, every stronghold of addiction will be broken, and every demon must flee when resisted in faith with the Name of Jesus..

Every knee must bow, every tongue confess, that Jesus is Lord.

Every prayer will be answered, every word spoken won’t return without accomplishing it’s intended purpose.

Every heart can believe, every voice of repentance is heard. Every angel dispatched to minister to those who are heirs of salvation.

Every truth will be revealed, every lie exposed, every mountain and hill brought low, and every crooked path straightened.

One other thought before I wrap this up.

For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. (Colossians 1:19-21 NLT)

…for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see – such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him. (Colossians 1:16 NLT)

God wasn’t willing for anyone, or anything (just in case you don’t want to identify with the human race), to be separated from him. So he did something about everything. In Christ.

Every person will have an opportunity to receive the savior; the one who died for everyone.

He created everything through Christ, and reclaimed and restored everything (and everyone) in Christ.

This is powerful stuff! Something we shouldn’t forget. Something even Mr. Jackson agrees with.

God’s definition of everything.

After all, “That’s what everything SHOULD mean.”