Two Choices

Romans 6:14-20

What would you do if you had only two choices with every decision? Can you imagine in this day and age what that would be like? How would you feel if when you went to the grocery store there was only two kinds of chips and not a whole isle? Or what would it be like to buy a car where your only choice was a stripped down version of a plain black car or a plain white one?

We like to have multiple choices because it makes us feel like we are in control. We can decide what flavor or brand or crinkle we want in our chip. We can decide what color or size engine or package of options we get with our car. We decide… therefore, we control.

Paul gives us a different perspective on decision making in Romans.

¹⁶ Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.      NLT

Paul is so black and white about things. We like it better when our choices have some gray area to consider. Then we can be graded on a curve instead of exact percentages. We like essay answers where we can explain why we chose what we did, instead of true and false questions that leave no room for interpretation.

Then, just when we think we understand, Paul wrote this.

¹⁴ Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.    NLT

He just got done saying that you are a “slave to whatever you choose to obey” and now he’s talking about living “under the freedom of God’s grace”. Confusing right?

Maybe the lesson for us to learn is the next time we are facing a decision, we need to look at it like Paul did. We have two choices. The one that leads to death; or the one that leads to life? Which one do you want to choose?

Well… when you put it that way, it doesn’t seem like much of a choice.

The Choice is Yours

Acts 13:44-52

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2013%3A44-52&version=NIV;NLT

 

 

Last week, when all the buzz was about the upcoming Ohio State/Penn State football game, the host of a local sports radio talk show told how he and his wife had recently celebrated their daughter’s first birthday. Of course, even at the age of one, she is a HUGE Buckeye fan!

 

The brother-in-law, who IS a huge University of Michigan fan, gave his niece a stuffed U of M teddy bear and U of M pajamas. The mom was incensed, and told her brother that he wasted his money; that no daughter of hers would ever use anything with U of M on it.

 

The question was posed: Was it more important to be polite, or to ream out her brother? All the callers agreed… she did the right thing. But here’s the question that came to my mind: What is most important - family or football; relationships or rivalry?

 

In the Acts 13 passage, the phrase “the word of the Lord”, is repeated multiple times

implying the importance of it.

 

The word of the Lord gave Paul strength and focus in his life and ministry. It helped him to weather the hard times and move forward with purpose and power. It enabled him to be used by God impacting the lives of both Jews and Gentiles. Without the word of the Lord, Paul would have continued down his path of persecution, rather the road of redemption. Paul was a force to be reckoned with because of the word of the Lord.

 

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.            John 1:14 NIV

 

Here’s how The Message interprets the first line of this verse: “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.” That picture brings it home and makes it very personal. The point is that the word of the Lord can’t be ignored.

 

So, regardless of whether you are a Buckeye fan or not, you must ask yourself the question - what is most important to me; the word of the Lord, or something else? The choice is yours, but keep in mind that your answer will be life-changing.

 

 

Choices

The choice for Abram was about what was best for everyone; and how to keep peace in his family. Even the hired help was causing a lot of division. Abram's suggestion to part company and go separate ways was meant to salvage relationships among everyone.

For Lot, the choice was about profit and gain. Abram gave Lot the choice of direction to go and which land to claim. Lot chose that land which was, to him, the best and healthiest parcels. His motives weren't as pure as Abram's.

Life is filled with opportunities and choices. Have you ever regretted a decision you made? It is so easy to spout off the top of your head, a decision. Choosing to decide without weighing the consequences can lead to regret and pain. The saying, "Let's sleep on it," is a wise thought. How often I change my mind after having opportunity to pray about something. It is during this prayer process that I think things through thoroughly, weighing the ups and the downs.

When Abram and Lot decided to go their separate ways, Lot looked around and saw where the most promising and well-watered land existed and chose to move there. He took the best share of the land even though it meant living near Sodom. Life is filled with choices and at times our choices bear spiritual consequences.

Abram settled in Canaan and God blessed his choice. “for all the land which you see I will give you and your descendants forever.” (Genesis 13:15)

Is there a choice you are struggling with today?  Perhaps this text could help you make a good decision and become a fruitful path for you.


Genesis 13:8-12

Life

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NIV) 
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live
 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 

We have a choice when it comes to our future.  We have a choice regarding what tomorrow will look like.  We have a choice whether to follow the trail that is brightly lit or to go down a path we know to be perilous and poorly lit.

Moses challenged Israel to choose life, to obey God, and therefore to continue to experience his blessings. God doesn't force his will on anyone. He lets us decide whether to follow him or reject him. This decision, however, is a life-or-death matter. God wants us to realize this, for he would like us all to choose life. Daily, in each new situation, we must affirm and reinforce this commitment.

We have a responsibility not only to ourselves but to our children, to make the right decisions.  We have choices to make every day; some are easy while others require planning and discernment.  When we have a close relationship with God, calling on Him every day, walking with Him constantly, there will be grace available to us to make wise choices.

Abram to Egypt; parts from Lot - Genesis 13:1-18

Life is filled with opportunities and choices. Have you ever regretted a decision you made? It is so easy to spout off the top of your head, a decision. Choosing to decide without weighing the consequences can lead to regret and pain. The saying, "Let's sleep on it," is a wise thought. How often I change my mind after having opportunity to pray about something. It is during this prayer process that I think things through thoroughly, weighing the ups and the downs.

When Abram and Lot decided to go their separate ways, Lot looked around and saw where the most promising and well-watered land existed and chose to move there. He took the best share of the land even though it meant living near Sodom. Life is filled with choices and at times our choices bear spiritual consequences.

Abram settled in Canaan and God blessed his choice. “for all the land which you see I will give you and your descendants forever.” (Genesis 13:15)

Is there a choice you are struggling with today?  Perhaps this text could help you make a good decision and become a fruitful path for you.

Read the entire Scripture text for today at Biblegateway and Genesis 13

We encourage your comments below or via email here.

Do we want what's right? Genesis 6:9-22

Do you ever think that our world is just as bad as in the time of Noah? Scripture says, “The earth was corrupt in God's sight and was full of violence.” Some days I feel like we don’t live much different, but every once in awhile I get glimpses of hope. I see through the actions of others, we have not completely gone back to our “only evil, all the time” ways.

I saw a movie the other day that held one of those moments. I am a Twilight follower, for those of you who know what I’m talking about; please don’t hold that against me. I am a hopeless romantic who loves books and movies with a love story.

The most recent Twilight movie, Eclipse, had a scene that touched my heart. The audience is an active participant in Twilight movies, so when the female lead pursued a sexual relation with her male love interest, the theater was thick with anticipation.

What those, who had not read the book were not expecting, was the refusal. Edward, the male heartthrob told his soul mate, Bella, that he would not have sex until they were married. Can you believe it? In the year 2010 the summer’s biggest blockbuster hit does not have sex in it, because he wants to do the right thing. The main character proceeds to get down on one knee, proposing marriage. When she accepts the theater erupted in applause.

People still want what is right, even if they don’t know it. They would never have cheered if the two lovers had given in to their physical desires, but they cheered when they chose to wait. It seems we still have some hope.

Read the entire passage on Biblegateway.com Genesis 6:9-22

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