You are different than your friends, co-workers and neighbours. You now belong to Christ. They are still on the outside and have never surrendered to Christ. Their own desires, their own will and their own preferences dominate their thinking and are the metrics for the choices they make in life. But shouldn’t I, the Christian, now claiming Christ as the Lord of my life, have a completely different set of standards for making choices – small or great?
We will be pressured from many angles, even this month, to make choices and decisions. Perhaps you are wrestling with something right now in your life. You sense that the decision you must make is not just about some immediate matter, but rather it could be precedent-setting for you. If you say ‘Yes!’ this time, it’s quite likely it will lead to more yeses down the road – which in the long run, may have a negative impact on your Christian life. You have every reason to be deep-down scared of the possibility of stepping out onto a treacherously slippery slope.
- Is it dead wrong?
- Could it be wrong?
- Would some others think it is wrong? Who?
- Is it iffy?
- Is it neutral?
- Is it okay or mediocre?
- Is it good?
- Is it the best?
The daily choices we make are not insignificant. Everyone has to make them – even your unsaved friends. But you belong to Christ. So your choices need to be processed through a special filter: Would the Word of God encourage me to say yes or no? Is this choice pleasing to Christ, my Lord? That’s the Christian filter for questions like these: Should I go there? Is it a good use of my time today? Should I buy that? Will I enroll? Will I watch this? Will I listen to that? Will I do this with my body? Will I say yes to my friends?
The little daily choices may seem somewhat irrelevant to the bigger picture of your future life, but really they are not. Your life is coloured and your character is formed and your direction is determined and your reputation is flavoured by the thousands of ‘little’ choices you make along the way. It is not just the ‘big’ decisions you need to be concerned about. When all the dots, big and small, are connected, they represent who you are.
The Apostle Paul prayed for the Christians in Philippi that they would make choices that would be labelled ‘The Best’.
This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, So that you may be able to discern what is best, and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. Philippians 1:9-10 NIV (1983)
Learn to pray at the beginning of each day. Ask the Lord to work in your heart as you read your Bible, to develop convictions that will favour what is best – not what is good or even so-so but rather, what is best. How can a Christian discern or know or sense what is the ‘best’ decision?
Our knowledge is expanded, and our insights are deepened as we talk to our Lord throughout each day about what’s on our plate for the day or week. The Spirit of God communicates with our spirit. (Romans 8:16) Lay the whole thing out before Him. Talk to Him just as you would share stuff with a friend. Give Him the details, and He will respect your privacy. Once you talk to Him, don’t rush away or shut Him off and get on with your day. Remain quiet before Him and let Him work in your heart in response to your prayer.
Our knowledge is expanded, and our insights are deepened as we become more familiar with the Word of God. The more we read the Bible, the more we will understand not only what God definitely commands us to do or not to do, but we will gain insights into His character and start to think more as He thinks. Even when a commandment about something cannot be found, we will get the ‘pulse’ of God on right and wrong, good and evil, by systematically reading the Bible every day.
If the best choice is available to you, don’t settle for anything less. You will please Christ by making the best choice.
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.
Warmly in Christ,
Peter Ramsay
P.S. Is it time to replace your little vehicle magnet? Free vehicle magnet 9″X2.5″ (22.5cmX6cm) Advertise heaven4sure.com. Seekers in need of Christ may see it and your magnet may become one link in their salvation story. An inoffensive way to help promote the Gospel in traffic and parking lots. Unlike decals, magnets can be removed easily.
The Mariana Trench and the Forgiveness of Sins Newest Gospel Story on heaven4sure
18 Online Lessons for Brand New Believers Covering the Basics Easy sign-up
Tabernacle 101 Once-a-week-email study – short and to the point.
Personal Evangelism – Share-Christ Tip & Prayer Cards Get your free supply. Easy to carry.
Automatic Signatures work! If you include www.heaven4sure.com in your automatic email signature, you will increase the number of visitors to the Gospel site. This is particularly relevant if you are in contact with those who do not yet know Christ.
FACEBOOK or social media link to heaven4sure? Links really do work! People are finding the site through such links.