Thought for Today

Joshua 24:15 Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."  

Psalm 25:12 Who are they that fear the Lord? He will teach them the way that they should choose.

Matthew 20:14 Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you.

John 15:16 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.  

Even if you are not remotely interested in football, you probably are aware that the NFL college draft began last night. For the first time in several decades, our local team had a very high draft pick, number 3. For many weeks there has been intense local speculation about which position would be chosen, about whether the team would trade the number 3 position to another team for a lower position plus additional picks, etc. Sportswriters have pontificated extensively on what the team ‘must’ do, what the potential consequences would be if the ownership just accepted the wisdom of the writers . . . and the obvious disaster if ownership did not. Neighbors debated. I’m sure there were ‘animated discussions’ at local pubs and restaurants. So, last night, Greta and I watched the television broadcast of the opening round. Not unexpectedly, the Patriots chose a quarterback. Being something of an expert on the sport myself (I played 3 years of high school football on a team that never won a game), I am biased toward offensive linemen, especially guards and centers. However, in this case, I believe their choice was wise and am optimistic for the future.

This morning, as I savored my first cup of coffee, I realized that being a Christian is all about making choices. Christians are people who make choices. Almost every minute of every day, we face choices. Certainly many are not of the magnitude of the choices Adam and Eve faced in Eden; they are not of the significance of the choice Cain faced. They probably do not carry the same potential economic impact of the Patriot’s choice last night. But, for each Christian, each time, they do have potentially eternal consequences.

I’ve written before that I have a small plaque on my dresser showing Joshua 24:15. Every morning, as I prepare for the day, I am reminded that each and every day, I must consciously choose whom I will serve. In the ‘big ticket’ items and in the minutia of life, I must choose. Sometimes, the choice is obvious and the potential consequences are readily apparent. Often, however, that is not the case. Many of the choices do not carry the weight of those faced by Adam and Eve or the Israelites entering the Promised Land. Despite how it might appear to me, my life is not that dramatic, not that intense.

But, Christians are people called to choose. Many of Jesus’ parables deal with choices. The one cited above reminds us that we are beneficiaries of God’s choice; God chooses to love us all equally. Remember the parable of the rich man, “Mark 10:17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" . . . 21 Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." 22 When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.”

Sometimes even the small choices we are called to make have very serious consequences, eternal consequences. We make choices in how we treat each other, in how we respond to the needs and interests of those around us. We make choices in how we execute the lives and careers to which we are called. Christians, in every aspect of our lives, are people called to continuously “choose this day whom you will serve.” True, Jesus did choose each of us. Jesus did appoint each of us just as he did with the 12; but, each of us much choose how we answer Jesus’ call. Each day in every way!

Stay safe, choose wisely and choose well, trust God,

Pastor Ray