Christian Living

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CHOICES
By Sue Stidham

Evangelist/Teacher Joyce Meyer recently taught on making choices. She addressed the fact that we can choose to be offended or not, choose to forgive or not and choose to be obedient to God or not. She also touched on making the choice to be in control of ourselves. (Romans 14:12)

In conjunction, she referred to 1 Peter, chapter 5. In verses 6-8 Peter is saying that we are to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God and to cast our cares upon Him. Then he tells us to be sober (clear-minded), and vigilant (watchful). You could say he means to be well balanced, according to Meyer.

Why well balanced? Probably the most important reason is as not to let our feelings or emotions rule us. Far too often, we humans base our decisions and 'choices' on how we feel, or what we desire, or our admiration of one speaking to us. Instead, we are to follow God's will for us and die to self (and others) daily.

Does this mean that we are to ignore authority? No, we are to submit to Godly authority and be obedient to God. But that is different than placing our selves under control of another or being controlling, because of a title or office. Therein lies the difference with the key words being "Godly Authority". How do we know when a spiritual leader or advisor is giving us a word of God to follow?

Their directions will first line up with the Word of God. To know what the Bible says concerning any topic is our mandate. The more we read or study the Bible, the more familiar we are with the things God does and would say to us. We should become so familiar that when we hear His voice, we automatically recognize it just as we do the familiar voices of family on the phone. They don't have to identify themselves; we know them by recognition and repetition.

Unless His Spirit within us recognizes the voice of God, we may not identify that the messenger may not be counseling us according to God's purpose. In addition, we should be in continual personal communication, prayer, with our Heavenly Father asking for his guidance and will. Thirdly, we will know by the peace, assurance and comfort that the Holy Spirit will bring us in the choice-making process. The enemy (satan) is the author of confusion and the father of lies, but the Holy Spirit is our comforter and guide.

It is that spirit that we are to utilize when we obey the scripture telling us to test the spirit. We are not to blindly accept all words delivered us in the name of Jesus. Many have gone astray under the instruction of others who use the guise of wolves in sheep's clothing.

Our choice is whether or not to have a real, one-on-one, personal relationship with Jesus. That is not assured by just going to church every Sunday morning. It is assured by asking Jesus to be your Lord and living for him thereafter. It is a choice, our choice, and no one else can make it for us. With all the other choices Joyce Meyer examined, this is the one that is most important.

Choices and decisions should be based on God's will and our willing obedience. We cannot ride on the wheels of Salvation attached to our pastor's cart or our family's good works. It doesn't matter what others may think or how peculiar we may look. We are accountable to God alone on the day of judgement. Fellow beings are not accountable for us.

Let me reemphasize what is said in Romans 14:11-12. "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."

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