I was pondering choices today and wondering if we, as Christians, take seriously the matter and freedom of choice and its consequences.

In each and every day, there are many choices we must make.  There are also opportunities for life and death to be meted out through those choices.

It is interesting that we cannot choose who we are in regard to our race, or who our parents are, but we can choose life eternal or eternal darkness.

Take for example, Peter and Judas.  Both denied Jesus, but Peter chose mercy and Judas chose death. 

Saul and David - Saul chose power and David chose God. 

Cain and Abel - Abel chose God and Cain chose murder. 

God let them choose.  He lets us choose.

The choices we make affect the course of our lives; our decisions mark the path we are walking on.  Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but leads only to death."

The right choices can be hard to make, and the attractive choices may not always be the right ones.

John 5:19-23 reveals that there is a revelatory way to live.  Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing, and as Christians, we should do the same.  Through prayer and seeking God's ways, and through His wisdom, obedient choices made according to what we see the Father doing lead to long-term, positive results.

Each day, thanks to our blessed Lord and Savior, we have the opportunity, with our choices, to bless or to curse - to encourage or discourage - to bring the light of Christ or to let darkness rule in our words, actions and attitudes.

Brethren, take regard of the choices you make and let them be acts of worship in remembering Who chose to bear the cross at Calvary so you could have the highest liberty and honor of choosing where you spend eternity.  Remember, Jesus chose to bear all the guilt and shame with all the excruciating agony of the cross so that you could choose.

 

Greg