All day long, our time is filled with choices. Our mornings begin with a choice: “Do I really want to get up now, or shall I sleep in ten more minutes?” The rest of the day we are challenged with decisions regarding a multiplicity of things. Life is all about choices.
We choose what food we are going to eat at our meals (One expert remarked that every day we make over 200 choices regarding food). We choose what we are going to read. We choose what we want to watch (I remember only 3 TV channels to pick from, now there are hundreds). We have our ipods that holds hundreds of songs. Just the other day I leaped into the digital relationship world by joining facebook. With facebook I am getting bombarded with friends I do not know, and those I barely know. It makes for delicate choices.
There is one area of life that haunted me as a young person. Is there really a God? If so, who is He and how can I have a relationship with Him, if it’s even available? There are thousands of religions that claim having the true God. Even in Christianity, with the Bible as the source of truth, there are thousands of denominations. Which one has the correct slant on the One and Only True God?
I am grateful that I was introduced to a ministry that was not shackled with tradition and church customs. Their concern was the integrity and accuracy of God’s Word. They were not trying to fit their dogmas into what the Scriptures say, but rather letting God’s Word speak on its own, letting it interpret itself. This opened the Bible so that the truth of having a true and vital relationship with the true God could become a reality.
God’s Word reveals the truth that opens the door to a fantastic relationship that was even greater than my wildest dreams of how I thought a loving God would be. Now my choice to believe and receive could be based on God’s matchless Word.
No greater choice in life is there for any human being than to pick the true and loving God. Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price of death. This allowed man to be legally bought for God.
I Corinthians 6:19 & 20:
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
God bought us and gave us the gift of holy spirit so that we would be eternally His child.
Romans 8:16:
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
I John 5:13:
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
The believer’s challenge to choose
The believer now has the challenge to choose how he is going to live his life. Is it going to be according to God’s Word? Or, will it be like those who try to balance their lives between worldly living and spiritual living.
Will we respond to life’s situations as a body and soul person? Or will we respond as a son of God with the power of Christ within and the hope of Christ returning soon? Most Christians endeavor to follow the Word, but the world seems to flood their minds with many and varied options. Obviously, since we live in a world dominated by the god of this world – satan, the devil, we are very much challenged.
How do we handle such a dilemma? Here is a three part solution for you to consider.
1. Remember God chose you
Many believers forget that not only did they at one time choose God via the new birth, but God chose them to be His own. God so loved us that He started the most fantastic relationship we could ever imagine.
II Thessalonians 2:13:
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
Isn’t it amazing that God picked us to be His very own! Logically our response should be to praise Him and serve Him.
I Peter 2:9:
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
If Christians really understood the calling of God and being chosen by Him, they would be committed to Him for a life-time.
2. Remember who you are in Christ
The world has flooded man with so many choices that he cannot think straight. Perhaps we are influenced to think like this, but remember we have the freedom of will to choose. We do not have to succumb to satan’s influences. Remember, “greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (I John 4:4b).
As we live each and every moment of our days, we can control our thinking.
II Corinthians 10:5:
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
I look at this verse and say, “no way can I do this! How can I lead captive every thought to the obedience of Christ?”, So what can I do? Remember, our Father is full of mercy, grace and forgiveness. He will work with us as we do our best and keep at it.
Set a goal to stay “son of God minded.” If you fail by breakfast, don’t quit, stay at it. As long as you continue to remind yourself of who you are in Christ, you will be able to walk in His power.
3. Remember, you know the end of the story of your life.
We are all so different and varied, not only physically, but in how we function and live. God has called us to perform in many different ways in the Body of Christ. As we live out our days on earth doing our best, we all have one colossal event that makes all our efforts worth it – Christ’s return!
I Corinthians 15:52 & 57:
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
What a motivation to stay the course! God is so loving and gracious to allow us to live a holy and fulfilling lifestyle. Let’s keep choosing our Heavenly Father and His Word.
Philippians 3:14:
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Agape,
Bob
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