Some people like to have choices. Me? Don’t get me wrong, I like choices but …… to be honest, sometimes I find it easier just to be told what to do or what to pick or what to eat. It eliminates the chance of my making a mistake or picking the wrong thing. Here’s the thing about having choices – we seem to think we have the ability to make right choices all the time. We can even begin to think that we have the right to make the choice.
This morning I was reading about the choices made by the very first man and woman – Adam and Eve. I will catch you up….
God places them in the Garden of Eden, lush with all kinds of vegetation and trees. He tells them that they may eat anything they want except they may not eat from one tree – the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He tells them what will happen if they should eat of it, “You will surely die.” (you can read this for yourself in Genesis Chapter 2). God does not leave anything to their imaginations. He tells them very specifically – “Eat from that tree and you will die.” Pretty much no ifs, ands or buts.
They had plenty else to choose from. I know the serpent casts doubt, he tempts them and they fall. But here’s the thing – they could have said “no”. Something happens to us when we have choices to make. We begin to think we have the right to the choice we make. That God has to honor our choice and bless it rather than us making the right choice to honor Him and bless Him.
Choices has been defined as “an option, an alternative.” (from dictionary.com).
God has given us His Word to direct and guide us. To help us to make right choices. And granted, there have been times He has clearly stated, “DO NOT_____________.” And those times are for our very own good. Not to deny us but to protect us from the fallout of making a bad choice.
I am not sure that had I been in the garden and the serpent came to me with some choices that I would have done any better than Eve. Seriously. Oh sure, I would like to think I would. But I am not sure that human nature is much different today than it was then.
Recently I had a choice to make. My first choice was the wrong choice. Thankfully, the choice was solely in my mind and I had not followed through because the time had not yet come. In that time lapse, God worked on my heart. I mean He worked on it so that I changed my course of action to be what would please Him. I had to bow my knee before Him and surrender my right to make a choice of my choosing so that I would choose the right thing.
Moses in speaking to the people puts it this way:
Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might life! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him,ĆĀ and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Deuteronomy 30: 19-20, NLT)
Very simply, God tells us when we have a choice to make, do these three things:
- Love God.
- Obey God.
- Commit yourself firmly to God.
He says this is key to our lives. I think it may all come down to this:
When given a choice – may there be no option, no alternative – choose Him.
Only Him.
Today I am linked with Soli Deo Gloria and Unite and Tell Me A Story and Teach Me Tues. and Momma Notes and Titus 2sday and Titus 2 Tuesday .
Oh yes, I am choosing Him today. And tomorrow. By the grace that He supplies! Thank you.
Barbara – You are right – each day we make that choice again. So glad you shared that thought.
Hi Joanne! Thank you for stopping by today!
Oh, I am probably a lot more of a rebel than I think. I’d probably want to have a bite of that apple. Sad but true!
Choices make life interesting, that’s for sure. I have made plenty of wrong ones, but hopefully I learn from them, so I can do better the next time. Thanks to God for second, and twelfth chances because I need every darn one of them! I like your three options. “Love, Obey, Commit.” Puts it all in perspective!
Happy Tuesday!
Ceil
Ceil, I too, have needed every chance I have been given š But then that is what makes us so grateful for His grace. So glad you shared that we hopefully learn from them as that is truly what redeems every mistake I have made. Thank you for stopping here & sharing today!
Hi Joanne,
It all makes so much sense when you put it that way – I love how the Moses quote ties in – such an easy lesson…such a HARD lesson. I know God looks at me sometimes and just shakes his head – tsk, tsk, she’ll learn one of these days…. Well, of course He’s right – I’m learning every day – I’m right there with Ceil – thanking Him for ‘next times’. Good post!
Janet
Thank you! So glad that you stopped here today. So grateful for another day to learn. And learn from one another too š
Making our choice(s) w/o listening carefully to the Lord and obeying quickly, can put us in a tough situation. I can’t say I’m perfect, but CAN say I hear Him and try to NOT get in trouble by disobeying. We hear and see so much in our world that it is hard to pay thorough attention to only Him. Even though I ain’t a young ‘un and have been saved for 47 years when I was already headed for serious trouble, I still need to focus on what He’s telling me to do. So easily side-tracked since I’m a knee-jerking person. Others do better than I, b/c they are introverted and hear Him more easily. We can only do and grow in Him to succeed in this world. You shared well. Thank you.
Joanne,
Loved that you shared so transparently. Even when saved a long time, we are still in the process of learning & growing. And that is a beautiful thing! So glad that you stopped here today & shared.
Blessings,
Joanne š
I agree that it is often simpler if we do not have a choice but are told what to do. We don’t eat out very often, but I always ask my husband what is he going to order before I can decide. š Thank you for your beautiful thoughts to arrive at a good choice. First to Love God, then be ready to Obey God, and finally to Commit yourself firmly to God. I love it!
Thank you for sharing with us here at “Tell Me a Story.”
Hazel – Thank you for taking the time to read each post shared with your link. Amazing. It is a wonderful community that you are building. Thank you for being so faithful & for taking the time for me š
Have a wonderful weekend,
Joanne