Today's Choices

 

    The future is always determined by our present decision. I've often wondered why God relinquished the power of life and death to man. Of course, God alone holds the power to give and take our first and last physical breath. However, eternity is determined by a power that is practiced every day and reserved for mankind - the power of choice.

    The first man, Adam, had everything and was still presented with a choice. That's one small decision for man, one giant consequence for mankind. I'm not trying to be distasteful by altering Armstrong's famous quote for this thought. We battle sin today because of one bad choice. God continued to love Adam and Eve, but there had to be consequences that forever affected their future on earth.

    We are given the command in Joshua 24:15, "...then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve..." It goes without saying again, though I take this opportunity to do so, our choices are extremely important. Our reaction to confrontation, our attitude in tribulation, and our words to any congregation (not limited to church setting) is determined by a choice. The results of that choice impact others as well as us. Our choices are vital to the representation of Christ in our lives.

    How did Jesus keep his cool when people made remarks that questioned His integrity, made Him out to be a liar, and were purposed to publicly humiliate Him? How did he not retaliate when spat upon and hit when He was completely innocent of any wrong? I believe there were two main reasons - prayer and the Holy Spirit.

    The Bible clearly tells us that Jesus, though He was God, was fully man. He was encased with flesh. He knew the struggle that came with it. He was tempted in every way, just as we are according to Hebrews 4:15. Jesus emphasized to his disciples that, "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" in Matthew 26:41. He prefaced that statement with three words, "Watch and pray." For the longest time, I could not understand why Jesus, who is God, would need to spend time in prayer to the Father seeking His will and asking for strength against temptation. 

    The first reason was the desire to continue in His relationship with the Father. The second finally registered with me and is the reason I wish to stress to you; He was in flesh. Had He not prayed and allowed the Spirit to lead His every move, thought, and word, Jesus could have sinned. That thought may cause your skin to crawl or cause unpleasant thoughts toward me for writing it. But, before you discard it, think about it.

    I want you to ponder on that thought because it reminds you that Jesus relates to the choices we must make. However, I don't want you to dwell on Jesus could have sinned due to being in flesh. Rather, be encouraged by the fact stated in the latter portion of Hebrews 4:15, "yet was without sin." He gives us hope and guidance in making the right choice. It's been dissected, preached, written about in great detail through books based upon interpretation, used as a pre-game chant, and recorded as a song or prayed in churches. The fact is Jesus instructed us to pray so that we would be strengthened by the Holy Spirit within us, as He was, to make the right choices - every day. He then left us this model...

Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 

- Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV)