The Choice

"But if you refuse to serve the LORD,

then choose today whom you will serve.

Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served

beyond the Euphrates?

Or will it be the gods of the Amorites 

in whose land you now live?

But as for me and my family,

we will serve the LORD."

Joshua 24:15 NLT

It was a horrible choice to face.  The young Polish mother was sent to Auschwitz concentration camp with her two young children.  Upon arrival, she was forced to choose whether it would be her son or her daughter who would be killed in the gas chambers.  Only one would be allowed to live, and in their cruelty, the Nazi guards compelled the mother to elect who would survive.

While my decision is not as heart-wrenching as this one depicted in the 1982 movie, "Sophie's Choice," I do have a clear choice to make.  In the same way that Joshua presented a choice to the people of Israel as to who they would serve, the Lord their God or the foreign gods, I have a similar decision to make.  I must be careful, though, not to do as the Israelites did:  They claimed to choose God, but also stubbornly clung to their old gods.  Joseph warned them to let go or God would turn from them and do them harm (v 20).

I must take this warning to heart and avoid giving my preference lip service.  When asked, "Whom today will I serve?", the answer I give must be sincere.

Foreign gods

He was nothing if not ambitious.  He felt pretty secure in his efforts, certain that his self-discipline in following the law would save him.  Still, he couldn't be sure.  So, the young man asked the Teacher as he passed through town.

"What is it I need to do to be saved?"

Jesus answered, "Well, if you insist on being saved by what you do, the requirement is this: Continually and perfectly follow the commandments."

"I'm in good standing, then, because all my life I have followed the commands you specified."

"Well then, if you truly want spiritual maturity, here is what you must do: Sell all you have and follow me."

This was a choice the wealthy young man was unwilling to make so he went away that day with a heavy heart.  The rich young ruler, while zealous in his quest to earn his way to heaven, didn't treasure Jesus enough to choose Him above all else (Paraphrased from Matthew 19:16-22).

I am not so different from this young man;  there is so much I value more than Jesus.  It could be worldly success which seems so important, my own self-interests that constantly stay before me, the pursuit of enough money to pay my bills and have a little left over to feel secure in the future, the hobbies or pastimes which are said to be healthy and beneficial; I am constantly faced with idols that I willingly worship.

In order to put away these captivating gods, I will need to purposefully turn away from them.  This means I could have to change my career goals so they line up more closely with God's plan for my life (Proverbs 3:5-6). I may also need to do a daily inventory of my heart, asking God to show me what is honoring to Him and what is simply there to motivate me to please myself (Psalm 139:23-24). 

While it is commendable to live in a fiscally responsible way, if I am looking to money to provide for my needs, I must instead rely on my heavenly Father who knows how to perfectly supply what is required for my life (Matthew 6:31-33).  It might also be necessary for me to ask of what I am unwilling to let go, no matter how good these pursuits might seem (Proverbs 14:12). Anything that gets between me and God, holds more weight than Him, or demands more attention than does the Lord is an idol. 

If I am to make the choice to follow Jesus, it is only an authentic choice if I put away any other gods.

The Lord our God

Amateur wrestling does not allow any maneuver that could cause bodily harm, whether intentional or not.  This includes full nelsons, forceful trips, headlocks, pulling a thumb or less than four fingers, or anything that restricts breathing or circulation.  The rules are there to protect the competitors and make sure everyone has the same chance to win.

A contest that excludes these kind of prohibitions is called a "no-holds-barred match."  As you can imagine, anything goes in these kind of bouts.  While I am not here to promote wrestling, or any other sport for that matter, there is a mindset found in this kind of competition that I can take on in my own walk with Jesus.

Instead of prohibiting certain acts of service, or proclaiming specific areas of my life as off-limits to God, a no-holds-barred approach would give Him complete access.  This means I would be willing to let God have His way in my life, letting Him choose my footsteps instead of me trying to be in control of my own destiny. While this kind of submission is not something that happens overnight, if He is Lord, I will see more of a desire to let Him lead as time goes by.

When I say I love God wholeheartedly but refuse to let go of the hurt a friend has caused, I am placing that area of my life off-limits to God.  If I say I will follow Jesus with everything I have, except if it means sacrificing my own welfare and comfort, then my proclamation is not sincere.  While I may mean it when I say that Jesus is Lord of my life, I can't make that claim sincerely if I'm angry about the suffering that sometimes is necessary for my sanctification. Thankfully, God leads us deeper and deeper into full and complete surrender as we grow in our relationship with Him.  

If I am to make the choice to follow Jesus, it is only an authentic choice if I submit more and more to Him as the days go on.

It is easy to say I will serve the Lord this day, but the choice I make is really made with my actions, not my words.  If it is to be a real choice, I will turn away from anything that distracts from the Lord, and I will wholeheartedly serve Him, taking a no-holds-barred approach. While I may not perfectly live this out as Jesus did, my desire to do so is what matters to God. In these ways, the choice I make will be apparent to anyone who is watching me live my life as they see the indwelling Spirit of God at work in me.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that the choice I make will honor God.

When do I say I want Jesus to be Lord, but withhold certain areas of my life from Him?

How am I worshiping idols in the way I spend my time?   


Originally published on March 11, 2014

Hook, Line and Sinker

"The high places, however, were not removed,

and the people still had not set their hearts

on the God of their ancestors."

2 Chronicles 20:33

The people of Judah had enjoyed a godly, devoted leader for 25 years.  While this man did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, the people weren't all in.  They hadn't bought into God's ways completely.  Instead of fully swallowing Him and His teachings, hook, line and sinker, they only nibbled, accepting what sounded good but discarding what was uncomfortable and retaining that which offended Him.

I am not so different.  What are some high places I have retained where idol worship often takes place (Psalm 78:58, Deuteronomy 5:8)?

Self-love.  Above all things, I want to be accepted by others.  My rights and liberties are very important to me and I will fight to defend them.  If I'm called to step outside of what I feel comfortable doing, I'll probably choose to stay where I am.  When it comes right down to it, I have placed myself and my sovereignty above God.  My love for myself has been elevated to the position of a god; it rules my life.

Since fitting in is so important to me, I end up choosing to go with the flow instead of taking a stand for God and His Word.  As a result, I have exposed my dedication to my own well-being as more important than the Truth.  Because I value my rights I defend myself whenever I feel threatened, revealing my belief that my liberties are of higher worth than God's glory.  As I work so hard to carve out the good life, I make decisions that cut God's purposes out since they might take me to places I never intended to go.  Consequently, I show how my comfort means more to me than obeying God.

My love for myself has become an idol, distracting me from wholly living for Christ.

World-love.  I take all the advice I can get, figuring that the more I can learn, the wiser I will grow.  Soon, I begin to take on the beliefs of the world, buying into its alluring messages.  Success, popularity, financial security, age prevention; they all become more and more important to me as I fall further and further away from God and His Word.  I can't buy into what the world is selling and devote my heart to the Lord.  It's either one or the other (1 John 2:15-17).

When I turn my attention toward the Lord, making Jesus my sole pursuit, He will change the way I think so that my opinions and beliefs line up more with God's will (Romans 12:1-2).  Unless I dedicate my heart to Him, however, the lure of the world will always be too strong to withstand.  Once I see Jesus as a treasure to be held onto, nothing will be able to tear me away from Him.

My love for the world can become an idol, distracting me from wholly living for Christ.

Control-love.  I would never choose a position that would stretch me beyond my limits.  I am careful to avoid what I don't like, to direct the conversation to topics I'm familiar with, to protect myself and my family from harm.  I have a strong desire to control my own life.

The problem is, I'm not in control.  God is in complete control of all things.  He is sovereign over all of His own creation (Psalm 33).  This is His world, not mine!  I have only fooled myself into thinking I have some semblance of dominion over the affairs of my life.  As soon as illness strikes, tragedy hits or the unforeseen comes my way, I realize how little control I really have.

Thankfully, God is a loving God who has my best interest at heart.  I can trust Him to sit at the helm of my life, directing my ways and guiding me to the path of life.  Only He knows the best plan for me so I would be wise to seek Him out wholeheartedly (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

My love for control can become an idol, distracting me from wholly living for Christ.

There are many high places erected in my life, providing opportunities for me to worship something other than God.  My love for self, the world, and control can steal my heart away from the Lord.  If I am to accept God's best for me, I must swallow His truth hook, line and sinker.  Until then, I will not fully be living!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can completely accept God's plan for my life.

How do I hold back, reserving some parts I'm not ready to surrender to Jesus?

When do I fail to trust God completely?

Returning to the Lord

"So Samuel said to all the Israelites,

'If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts,

then rid yourselves of the foreign gods

and the Ashtoreths

and commit yourselves to the LORD

and serve him only, 

and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.'"

1 Samuel 7:3

The hem of His robe flapped in the wind as I walked by His side.  I drew comfort from the sound that reassured me of His presence.  Joy welled up inside as I gazed upon His loving countenance.  A gentle breeze stirred among the trees as we strolled along the narrow path.  As it grew rocky, I felt my heart flutter, unsure of my footing.   A single glance toward Him, however, was all I needed to restore my confidence in my foothold.

A sweet bunny hopped across the path, headed deep into the forest.  I was drawn as if by an unseen, irresistible force.  Just for a moment.  I will follow it only for a few feet.  I just want to see where it went.  It seemed innocent enough, this sideways jaunt off the path.  My Master will be there when I return.  Not to worry. 

Before I knew what was happening, I was all turned around, confused after only a few minutes of following the meandering trail of the forest creature.  Where is the path?  I must be close, but I don't see it.  This seemed like such a good idea at the time, but now that I'm lost deep in the woods, I wish I could see just a glimpse of my Shepherd.  Only a glance would set my mind at ease.  Why, oh why, did I leave the path of life?

The people of Israel were just like you and me; prone to fall away from the Lord.  As a result, God sent judges to His ancient people, using these leaders to get the people back on track.  In order for this repentance to be deemed as authentic, both for them and for us, it must be accompanied by certain actions.

Wholehearted Devotion

My heart was not in it.  For nearly twenty years, I did what I thought I should.  I read my Bible a few times a week.  Sunday mornings were set aside for church, sometimes even Sunday night.  I tried to talk about God, giving credit to Him when appropriate, although His name felt foreign to my lips. I offered up the obligatory prayer before meals and at bedtime.  I wanted to do right, but it seemed I couldn't stop thinking about myself, my plans and my problems long enough to seek God. (Isaiah 29:13) My spiritual life was quite shallow and unfulfilling.

One day, God introduced Himself to me in the form of a Bible study.  Experiencing God, by Henry Blackaby and Claude King, opened my eyes to the truth of His presence in my life and vividly showed me how I can see Him at work all around me and even join in with what He is doing.  Incredible!  This idea of living with Him, in His presence, was so different from what I had been experiencing.  Suddenly, my faith was alive and I found myself wanting more and more of Him.

God did not send Jesus to die a horrible death on the cross so that I could live an unrewarding, meaningless and lifeless existence.  No!  He sent His Son so that I could bear fruit that lasts, experience abundance and flourish like a tree planted by streams of water. (John 15:8,16; John 10:10; John 8:36; Psalm 1:1-3)  Instead, I often choose my own way, fearing to let go of my own desires, unwilling to surrender my plans that seem so good, and hesitating to take the plunge into the sea of life.

Once I do take a chance and jump into the deep waters where Jesus is found, I discover that it is more than I could have ever imagined.  My faith grows as I trust Him more each day.  The bond between us grows stronger as I place more and more of my life into His hands, opening the deepest parts of my heart to Him.  A peace that is beyond my comprehension floods my heart and mind.  Now this is living, I think to myself.  What was a waiting for all those years?

If my repentance is real, it will be marked by a wholehearted devotion to God and His ways.

Purge

A little bit won't hurt, I tried to reassure myself as I stirred up the pot of delicious stew simmering over the campfire.  As I added all the ingredients, a fly had somehow found it's way into the pot.  Before I knew what was happening, it was a part of our dinner.  While I didn't relish the thought of including the disease-laden insect in my family's meal, I tried to justify my willingness to serve such a contaminated dinner by telling myself we were camping so anything goes.  In reality, even one fly is enough to ruin a whole batch of stew.

This is often how I deal with sin.  I figure that as long as I get rid of most of it, I'll be okay.  But even a little bit of envy can steal my contentment.  Even a dab of anger can grow a root of bitterness.  Even a tiny amount of lust can lead my heart away from my one, true Love.

Therefore, it is important that I do as God instructed the Israelites to do and remove every trace of idols and foreign gods.  God knows how easily influenced His people are by temptations that appeal to my fleshly desires, worldly mindsets that contaminate godly thinking, or enticing promises of power and prestige that interrupt God-honoring priorities.  (1 John 2:16)  If I leave even a trace of the sin in my life, it threatens to lead me away from Jesus.

As His child, then, true repentance is marked by a desire to completely purge my life from what offends Him.  If I am convicted to give up curse words, for example, I can't give myself a pass when I'm driving in traffic, figuring that God won't mind if I vent a little.  If God pricks my heart, impressing upon me the importance of giving up offensive movies, I can't allow myself to watch a film laden with dirty language and sex scenes just because it received an Oscar.  Or, if I know God wants me to use my time in a way that honors Him, justfying the hours frittered away in social media because I need a little "down time" won't satisfy God's jealous nature.

If my repentance is real, it will be marked by a true effort to purge my life of the sin that offends my holy Father.

Serve

My Plans.

My Desires.

My Dreams.

My Time.

My Money.

My Family.

My Life.

I like to think they all belong to me.  In the words of Jimi Hendrix, "I'm the one who has to die when its time for me to die, so let me live my life, the way I want to."

While it may seem like common sense that everything in my life belongs to me, when I enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ, He becomes Lord of my life.  Now I have a new Master.  Instead of me being the author of my life, Jesus has stepped into that position.  Since He's not a bully, however, He will not forceably take headship.  Instead, He waits until I relinquish control, letting Him step into His rightful place as Lord of my life; a position which He gave His life as a ransom to purchase. (1 Corinthians 6:20)

Therefore, when I want to serve my own interests, I can instead be all about my Father's business.  When I am tempted to run after the things I think I need, becoming a slave to my hunger, I can let my Father provide what He sees fit.  When I give my life in service to my family, dedicating myself to it's health and the well-being of every member, I can try serving God instead, placing my loved ones in His capable hands.

It is easy to let other people, pursuits or passions take the place of God in my life.  When I choose to cater to the needs of myself and others instead of following God and God alone, I am in danger of being unfaithful to Him.  If I make it my heart's desire to do only as He bids, then I will never go wrong.  Merely doing what I think is right will always lead to destruction.  (Proverbs 14:12)  

If my repentance is real, it will be marked by my endeavor to serve God and only Him.

I have much in common with the people of Israel who were prone to wander.  Likewise, I find it much easier to fall off the path of life than to keep my foot steady upon its hard surface.  Therefore, it is important that I turn toward God in repentance of my wayward ways.  When I do, I will know if this change is real by whether I am giving Him all of me, if I'm willing to rid myself of all temptation, and if I serve only God.  In these ways I will know that I am truly returning to the Lord.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep my eyes on Jesus.

When do I get distracted by things that don't really matter?

How am I easily discouraged from living a pure life?