Skip to main content

The Choice is Yours

    Before you execute any action, sinful or righteous, you have to make the conscious decision to do so. Neither Satan nor Jesus suddenly takes over us and makes us do something without us first saying yes, then doing. Sometimes people say yes to Satan and he does take over, but Jesus never will. He always gives us the freedom to choose what we will do and when. Will we listen to His leading, or choose otherwise?

    The reality of freedom is both a relief, and quite frightening. Our lives are completely left in our hands. What if we mess up? Well, thankfully, Jesus has provided us with grace and forgiveness for those times because they will come along. He even turns things back around in our favor in those instances. But what really is amazing is that He lets us choose Him or not. He has already chosen us, but we get the freedom to choose what we want. Those of us that have made that decision know that He is both the right choice and the best choice, but He let us figure that out on our own.

    I want to encourage you and warn you today. Your life is in your hands. Never act as if you can't get out of something because you always have a choice. You either choose the temporal pleasures of this world, or you choose the eternal delight of Jesus Christ. That's no one else's fault or choice but your own. Only you are responsible for the direction your life goes. I pray that you choose Jesus.

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (NIV)

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. (ESV)

Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. (ESV)

Galatians 5:16-17 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. (ESV)

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (ESV)

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (ESV)

Romans 6:14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (ESV)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

1 2 3, Count on Me

     I am thankful to say that for the first time in my life I am surrounded by friends and a community who I know will always build me up and point me in the right direction. More importantly, I know that they will always be honest with me. Honesty is a rare trait these days and I think it to be (combined with love) the most important thing to have in any relationship.    The Bible instructs us to speak life and truth into one another. To be honest and point each other to Christ when we are failing to see straight. I cannot emphasize how much I have grown since having access to that kind of community. Being in close friendships where I am able to be completely honest about my life, my struggles, my thoughts without fear of rejection or judgement is monumental alone. But take that a step further. I have been blessed to have friends that I can not only share my most intimate thoughts with, but they additionally are on their toes looking out for me and honest wh...

He Time

     We have now gone over me time and we time, so today I want to address He time. It's a pretty simple concept-- that we have to spend time with Jesus to grow our faith. Just like anything else we want to get better at, you have to spend time doing it. In the case of Christianity, we are changed into the image of Jesus as we spend time with Him. 2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (ESV)     My message is as simple as this-- make sure that you are setting time aside for Christ. You will never change if you don't continually immerse yourself into His presence. We need to be spending time in His word so we know His promises and guidelines for our life, in prayer to speak to Him for individual direction in our circumstances, and worshipping Him for His goodness.     Do not le...

Here's to New Beginnings!

    As 2014 begins, with it comes talk of a fresh start and new beginnings. Resolutions are made to eat healthier, save money, travel, learn a new skill etc. But as Christ followers, the new year is always a good reminder of who we are in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. (HCSB) Galatians 2:20 and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (HCSB) Ephesians 4:22-24 You took off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires; you are being renewed in the spirit of your minds; you put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth. (HCSB) Galatians 5:24-25 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let...