Choose You This Day

For years I attended a church that authored strict standards by which to judge my Christian walk; Standards that decreed what I should wear, where I was allowed to go on my free time, and how much free time I was allowed to have.  Needless to say my clothing choices were limited, allowable activities were few and free time was nonexistent.  To say I was good at following orders would be fairly accurate; to say I was a good Christian would be a lie.  I served a church and its doctrines; I didn't have a clue what God required of me. "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Matthew 15:9)

I have since learned what God requires of me.  "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Micah 6:8)  God desires a personal relationship with each of us and in the bonds of that relationship the Holy Spirit will direct us on how to live and interact in the world as becomes a Christian. 

Think of life as a long winding path, cluttered with intersections that require choices. “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:14) There are no mile markers, no clearly defined sign posts, there isn’t even a handy map provided to you by a friendly gate keeper.  Choices must be made continually: Which direction do I take? What job should I accept?  Who do I listen to?  Where should I live?  I used to believe that none of it mattered.  I was in control of the questions and the answers.  As long as I remembered that I was a Christian; the what, where and how didn’t matter.  But I can no longer justify that lack of accountability against the scriptures I read in my Bible.

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV)

“For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.” (James 4:15)

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1)

“And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” (Luke 10:27)

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."  (Galatians 6:7-8)

When God gave me his Holy Spirit he clearly demanded the right to be LORD OVER EVERY AREA OF MY LIFE. Not just my Sunday’s, not just my private belief system, not just when I face sickness, death or sorrow.  He demands every minute of my life; to be my counselor in every choice I make.  Why?  So that all the praise and all the glory goes to him.  That is the inspiration I received after listening to a message the other day from Dr. Charles Stanley with In Touch Ministries.

If God demands preeminence in my life, how do I get direction for the multitude of decisions I must make every day?  Yes, praying always helps, but I can’t just sit in my prayer closet and wait for God to tell me what to do before every step I take.  I have the Holy Spirit for a reason: to counsel me and comfort me in my daily Christian walk.

 “If ye love me, keep my commandments And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” (John 14:15-17)

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)

This is the premise of Dr. Stanley's sermon.  With the aid of the Holy Spirit we can confidently meet every intersection of our life by honestly answering these questions and acting according to the spirit led response.  

 

1.  Will this activity bring Glory to God: Will it honor, magnify and cause me to reflect the image of Christ?

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Cor. 10:31)

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Cor. 3:18) 

"For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:  "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." (1 Peter 2:21-25 NKJV)

2.  Will it be profitable to my Christian life; will it aid me in my Christian walk?

"All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not." (1 Corinthians 10:23) 

"For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." (Galatians 5:13)

3.  Will it edify me as a believer; will it build me up?

"And whatsoevere ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men: Knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ."  (Colossians 3:23)

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." (Colossians 3:16)

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." (Philippians 4:8-9) 

4.  Will my participation in this activity have the potential of enslaving me?

“Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." (John 8:34-36 NKJV)

"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." (Romans 6:6)

"What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Romans 6:15-16)

"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator." (Colossians 3:5-10 NIV)

5.  Will my participation in this activity strengthen me against temptation or lead me deeper? (Remember the quote “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.”)

"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James 1:13-17)

"Do not be conformed to this world....  Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good." (Romans 12:2, 9 NKJV)

"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness....Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!"  (Isaiah 5:20-21 NKJV)

6.  Does this activity reflect the character of God or the character of the world?

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." (1 John 2:15-17 NKJV)

"Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (2 Timothy 2:22 NKJV)

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2 NKJV)

There are many scriptures to expound upon and guide the believer in answering each one of these questions.  God was not lax in ensuring that we had a thorough guide book for all of the quandaries of this life.  The Bible may not speak about what movie to go see at the theatre, what college to attend, what career choice to pursue or where to live, but foundational principles are given regarding the level of our involvement in the world, what to do with our finances and the “works” that should become evident in our life. "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun." (Ecc 1:9 NIV)  He tells us all we need to know in order to live a fully sacrificed, Spirit led life.

So if you still embrace the “I’m accountable to no one but myself” philosophy, then you probably need to answer one more question regarding what is ultimately important in your life; If it is to simply embrace what life has to offer and take your chances with the judgment day, then make it a successful life by the world’s standards for surely you will have your reward. If you have the far look of eternity and desire to see God, and take hold of all the promises laid out for an overcomer (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26, 3:5, 12, 17), than you will need to “Choose this day whom you will serve.”

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)

God Bless,

Amy Charissa Warren