Making the best choices

 

It is easy to say I want the will of God, but this past week has been filled with tests to that desire. One option was fine in size but terrible in color. I wanted the size but could I live with what did not appeal to me?

Another option looked good in the beginning but it had some serious flaws that would make life very challenging. Could I live with the cosmetics and deal with the flaws? Praying for the will of God seemed to mean a lot of compromise, yet it turned out neither option was His will. Then came yesterday.

Weeks ago we bought tickets to an outdoor event. But it was cold, very windy, and we were exhausted. I put on a winter vest and a windbreaker. I didn’t want to go. But we did and immediately, in a large crowd of people, found a cousin and his wife — and the reason it was God’s will that we attend this event. I don’t know him very well, but made a significant connection at our family reunion where he invited us to this event. He was involved in it in a small way, but so delighted that we came to encourage him.

Today’s reading speaks of this life of faith. We were burdened all week trying to figure out the will of God and relieved but exhausted to finally know what He wanted. How true that He says:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6–7)

I’m not to worry about anything, certainly the ‘big’ issues of life but also the small, everyday stuff that can be a bother, particularly when I feel so helpless about it or so tossed with the choices. This week was filled with both, yet the simplicity of getting outside in the cold to make another person smile has more merit than all the struggles about choices that seemed vital at the time. Helplessness is good if it turns me from my I-wants to make simple decisions based on what the Spirit of God has clarified.

Again, as today’s reading says, I must remember that my chief strength in knowing and doing the will of God is my weakness, even utter helplessness:

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. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9–10)

Knowing what choices to make apart from seeking the will of God is folly. It is easy to rely on preferences or what seems good and wind up making big mistakes. It is easy to choose what feels comfortable and wind up missing an opportunity to be a blessing to another person.

PRAY: Lord, I know my strengths easily hinder me from discovering Your will. I also realize how praying that Your will is done is stepping into a war zone. Our enemy is not at all interested in that kind of surrender. I hear the prayers of others and realize the conflict that so easily thwarts this desire to see You at work. My prayer today is that Your will is done — in my life and in the lives of all Your people, but also that we want it with all our hearts because trusting You and knowing what You want for us far out-weighs what we suppose to be the best choices. Amen.

His Choice enables my Choices

There is much controversary over a doctrine called ELECTION. The word ELECT is a noun meaning the ones chosen, whereas election is the “act of deliberately selecting someone or something” used throughout the NT in reference to the choice of God in redemption and service.

For the latter, He said of Paul that “he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:15)

That part is easy. The difficulty lies in how does God’s choices for salvation tie in with human responsibility to choose Christ as their Savior. Who does what? How can both be true?

The OT says God chose Abraham and the Jews, not for anything they did, but He picked them to represent Him.

Many NT verses point to God’s work of choosing people. Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you” (John 15:16) adding the reason for His choice.

Other verses verify that God’s choice is not about picking those who somehow deserve this honor. Referring to Jacob and his brother, God selected Jacob “though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls” (Romans 9:11) and following up saying this election does not depending on human will but on the mercy of God because no one deserves the wonder of God’s grace.

The words that are translated chosen, election or elect are slightly different yet all refer to a decision made by whoever is wanting something to happen. The difference is that mankind can choose to do a thing and it may or may not come to pass. In an incident when Paul was under arrest, some Jews wanted to assassinate him but a Roman soldier put a stop to it. People and God thwarting the choice of the others.

On the other hand, when the mind of God devises a plan, His plan will not be thwarted:

So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” (Romans 9:18–19)

This does not answer the question of human response to God being our choice. However, after years of thinking about this, this is my take on it . . .

First, God says no one seeks Him; this is the blind and stubborn nature of sin. In grace, He reveals Himself in creation (Romans 1) so all understand something about Him. If that revelation is refused, He leaves people to their own choices, a slippery slope into more and more sin and selfishness.

However, those who respond to that revelation eventually get another one; God shows them their need as sinners. To that, people can say yes or no. If no, back to the slope. If yes, the next choice is to turn to God for His help or rely on themselves to be ‘good’ and worthy of salvation. The Bible is clear that the second option does not work. Those who choose it might seem to stay static on that slippery slope because their self-effort is not as blatantly expressed as those who said no to the first revelation. However, these who try to save themselves are only deceived; it cannot be done. We all fall short.

Jesus said that the one who cries out, “Have mercy on me, a sinner” winds up being justified. Without God’s revelation, he would never have gotten that far, but with it he can see his options and chooses rightly. Jesus said that this choice results in justification, which would not have happened had God not chosen to reveal truth to that person in the first place.

Once chosen and redeemed, we are then given the ability to make other choices. Before that, all we could select was “our own way” whether it appeared “good” or evil or to say yes to God’s revelations. As a Christian, God gives even greater options . . .

GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. Jesus’ words, “Not my will but thine be done” show that godliness is not about the quality of the choice (After all, what is wrong with the will of this sinless Savior?) but who is making the choice, who is governing my life? Peter wrote, “Be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” (2 Peter 1:10) I confirm that God choose me by doing what He says I must do, letting Him make decisions for my life. When I “lean to my own understanding” I am falling back into that old way of life, whether it appears good or not. In other words, election is the same as grace; without it and without God revealing truth and allowing me options, I would have remained on that slippery slope leading to destruction. It seems to me then that God chooses to offer all people grace — in stages — and our choices determine the outcome.