Choices

Jan 11, 2022

"Commit your actions [choices] to the LORD, and your plans will succeed."

- King Solomon, Proverbs 16:3

"If you chase two rabbits, both will escape… you must choose one to catch one."

- Anonymous

Today, every single one of us has this one thing in common - Choices. Right now, you are thinking about ten choices you have to make even before you leave the house. What will I wear? What will I eat? Will I sleep past the snooze alarm. Will I take the dog out? Will I get the baby? Will I take the freeway or the back way? Etc, etc. Choices! And most of them, by their very nature, are manageable because the consequences of choosing one over the other are really not that serious. Choosing oatmeal over a Twinkie for breakfast isn't going to ruin my day… but it could affect my joy quotient! (Smile) I still believe Twinkies are the best evidence that a good God reigns over Heaven and Earth! Ha!

However, there is that one choice… you know the one. The one that's weighing on your heart and pressing down on your mind. The one you cannot stop thinking about… stressing about. Because a lot of stuff that really, really matters to you hangs in the balance of that one choice…

...Should we sell nor not sell?...

...Should we move or not move?...

...Should I tell her or not tell her?...

...Should I start the program… or not?...

...Should I get vaxxed… thraxxed… boosted… or not?...

...Should I end this relationship… or not?...

...Should I make this investment… or not?...

...Should I buy that car? Quit that job? Start the chemo? Wear the mask? Confront my son? Ask her to marry me?

CHOICES! Here's the question: How do we make right choices in a complicated world?

And, by "Right Choices," I'm not talking necessarily about making moral choices. You see, I believe that most of us who follow Jesus already have an innate "!0 Commandment" informed conscience. I know that, when I was teaching, if I asked everyone who has ever lusted to leave the building, I would've been standing there all alone. Haha! Just kidding! This is not to say that I don't struggle with "God's rules." I do. We all do. But, as Jesus-followers, while we may choose to lie… or to steal… or to lust… we know it's morally a wrong choice. But the choices… the really hard choices… I think most of us struggle with are the amoral choices. These are the ones that keep us up at night...

...Should I take the doctor’s advice… or not?...

...Should I turn in my resignation… or not?...

...Should I take my dad off life support… or not?...

...Should I put Mom in a nursing home… or not?...

...Should I… You fill in the blank… or not?

Here's the good news: God the Father can help you make the best choice that will honor Him, bless others and benefit you! He wants you to live with the confidence that the choices you make will keep you on the road of His best will for your life!

So… how do we experience that assurance? Are you ready? It's NOT by mechanically obeying "God's rules.” It's by living in intimate relationship with the God of Heaven and Earth!

Listen… God is tired of having a distant relationship with His people. He was tired of it thousands of years ago in Moses' day… and He's tired of it in our day!

Remember when God came down from the Mountain to meet with His people…

And all the people saw the thunder, and the lightning, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they moved [away], and stood far off. And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was…

- Exodus 20:18,21

What?! Moses ran in… the people ran away! What a picture! Moses is saying, "Come on, guys! It's God! He wants to meet with you… be near you. He's come down from the mountain to be with you!" And the people said, "No, we're fine right where we are." So God said, "OK, take another lap around the wilderness." If you're trudging through the wilderness of some pressing choice… run to God the Father!