Many years ago, our daughter was reading at the kitchen table. The book was something about the power of choice. She suddenly said, “It is about motivation. I could say I will not or was unable to do something, but if a gun was put to my head, I would do it.”
My memory could be wrong. She may have illustrated with a negative, something like, “If I said I could not stop eating ice cream, I could stop if there was a gun to my head.” Either way, she made a point that I remember. It is easy to say “I have no time to restart exercising every day” or “I can’t resist eating chocolate” but her statement reminds me that God has given choices. In my own strength, I may not have the will or the power to do what He asks, but today’s devotional takes me back to what my daughter said — I can choose:
And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)
These were God’s people and given a choice between obedience to Him or to the gods in their world. They had a decision to make. The OT is full of warnings about the consequences of their choices. It is obvious as His people, they needed to make His will their priority and be blessed, but disobedience would give them problems.
It is the same for NT believers. We are told to trust and obey, yet the trust part is easily smeared with doubt, especially if those OT benefits stop happening. When life hands me lemons, my faith may go sour. Part of that comes from thinking the “good life” comes from good behavior and like Job, we wonder why what happened when our comfort zone is violated. Did God forget me? Why did He stop blessing me? I easily assume obedience will feel good, yet Jesus was made perfect by suffering so why not me?
Sometimes I doubt because a voice in my head says I’m guilty but that voice is vague. I know the Holy Spirit is specific. I must remember that the devil will try to make me doubt with that accusation. However, God says this enemy is defeated:
And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. (Revelation 12:10–11)
Whatever makes my faith waver, I can choose to say NO to it — based on the Word of God. Like any sin, I do not have to give into it. If I’m thinking God does not love me, I can say, “Nonsense. Jesus died for me.” If I’m thinking God does not hear my prayers, I can say, “Jesus says He does so am I willing to call Him a liar?”
Whatever the doubt is about, there is a biblical answer that counters it. The answer may not be easily seen or seen at once, but if God said it and I’m doubting it, then I am accusing God of lying — not very wise of me!
The nature of faith a renewal of choice. As a sinner, all I could choose was sin and was without knowledge or desire to be godly. Being ‘good’ was always fake goodness for beneath any action that seemed good was a selfish motive. My sin made me blind to my sin.
On the other hand, the gift of faith includes the ability to see and choose His way. It is sometimes easy, somethings very difficult, depending on the challenge to my comfort, or the work required, or other plans I might have, or if doubts are present. Does God really know what is best for me? Does His way work? Will it turn out for good?
A big part of faith is knowing God well and rightly. Reading His word is the way to know Him yet many times the Bible is read to prove a point, to affirm an idea, to refute or accuse the ideas of others. Wrong motives raise doubts rather than getting rid of them.
PRAY: Jesus, saying NO to doubt might seem too easy, yet I know that without You, I would always be selfishly choosing what I think would make me feel good. Besides that, You often remind me that great things happened because You choose to say, “Not my will but thine be done.” I’m learning, slowly as usual but learning, to choose to say NO to doubt and a few other things that try to hold me in their grip. Thank You for the power of choice.
First Satan took their focus away from all that had been given them and put it on the one thing they could not have. How different this world would be if everyone could simply be thankful, but as the NT says: “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools.” (Romans 1:21–22)
Second, Satan minimizing the Consequences by telling them, “You will not die” as if God lied. With their attention focused on the tree they forgot what God actually did say. This is why I need to daily read God’s Word — I forget what God says too.
The enemy’s next strategy was mislabeling disobedience. He suggested eating the forbidden fruit would expand them, make them more complete. He added to that lie by mixing good with evil saying the fruit was good for food, adding that it was also pleasing to the eye. His final lie was saying eating it would make them wise. They didn’t get it that he was calling God a liar and making his interest in their welfare appear greater than God’s.
In contrast, the NT tells me to get my wisdom direct from my Maker, not from forbidden stuff. Should I fall into that trap, I eventually realize how foolish that was. Instead…
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5–8)
An unstable person is up and down, trusting God one day and doubting the next. This makes me joyful then miserable, sure of God then unsure. It affects my moods, even my health. It certainly affects my prayer life.
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:24–25)
And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Matthew 21:21–22)
It also affects my spiritual growth, unity with other Christians and the health of the Body of Christ. Doubt never glorifies God but turns inward and shrivels my ability to praise Him.
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:11–16)
The Bible says faith comes by hearing God speak of Jesus. While that builds faith, I find that any doubt first must be confessed as sin. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
PRAY: Jesus, You also tell me, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8) Drawing near to You in confession of my doubts releases me from the enemy’s lies and allows that sweet surrender — an attitude of trust even in situations where life seems to make no sense. After all, faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen and without faith it is impossible to please You, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that You exist and that You reward those who seek You. (Hebrews 11:1;6)
Current thinking can be confusing. Some say there is no God; others are fully convinced. They cannot both be true beliefs BUT current thinking says, ‘What is true for you is not true for me.’ For many, truth has become a matter of opinion.
Christians can struggle with this same way of defining truth. Sometimes our differing interpretations cause divisions if we don’t dig deep enough to determine what biblical passages really say or mean. Failing to rightly understand Scripture can result in mild disagreement, or vigorous discussion, or church splits, and even be at the root of cults being formed.
Another issue is the concept of “rhema” where the term used for “word of God” means the Holy Spirit is using a passage to speak to the need of the moment. For instance, I may have read a verse many times about God’s abiding presence but during a period of loneliness, it felt like God was giving me a hug with that verse.
God also gives His people individual instructions. One NT incident is when the Spirit sent Paul and Barnabas to Seleucia (Acts 13) but forbid them to go to Asia and Bithynia. (Acts 16).
This reminds me of a former pastor who announced he was leaving the ministry. Our church was confused and trying to come up with a reason for his decision. Did someone treat him badly? The confusion was filled with opinions based on experiences people could relate to, so finally I decided to ask him why he decided to resign. He listened to my question and concerns, then slapped his desk and said, “None of that applies. I am doing this because the Lord told me to do it.”
Does this mean that truth for one person differs from truth for others? In God’s leading and personal ministry it might — but not every pastor is told to resign. Whatever I hear, I need to make sure it fits with Scripture. I knew of a woman who thought God told her to divorce her husband for another man. That does not line up with the Bible.
During Christ’s time, there were religious leaders who measured truth by their interpretation of OT laws. If a law was not understood, they added another one to supposedly clarify it. This resulted in hundreds of regulations that nobody could possibly obey. These Pharisees vehemently opposed the teaching of Jesus. He was concerned with the human heart and being motivated by the Holy Spirit. They were more into outward appearance and impressing people. When Jesus claimed, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6) He even confused the disciples. Do we humans like rules? Are they easier to follow than listening to the heart of God and studying His Word?
We are saved by faith and are told to walk by faith. The Word guides us with truth requiring faith especially when God tells us to do something that makes no sense.
Consider Abraham. God told him to go to a land He would show him. The man set out without a clue about his destination but trusting God. Later, God told him to sacrifice his son. How would I interpret that command from God had I been Abraham or Isaac? What did that boy think as his dad tied him to the altar and raised his knife? Was there a “rule” that would make this command even palatable, never mind true?
This matter of rules can also be challenging when God puts His people in situations that call for us to follow Jesus even if others misunderstand the heart of His request. Some think we are breaking the rules when we show kindness to sinners — because it might look like we are approving their sin. Some suppose we are breaking the rules when we do things contrary to their personal comfort level. Bring like Jesus can make us targets instead of examples.
This should not happen but it does. Instead of “loving one another” in the Spirit, judgment and criticism threatens our unity and fellowship and mars our witness to a needy world who need to see the grace of God rather than the ugliness of living by rules and self-righteousness.
PRAY: Oh Lord, You tell me to walk in the Spirit even though much of the world resists You and are convinced that their rules are better. I too can slide into that “I am right” attitude when it seems more comfortable than doing what You ask — especially when Your commands to me are going to upset or challenge the person sitting next to me at church. I’m encouraged by these words:
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:31–11:1)
May my only rule say this: Be like Jesus.
This morning my Fitbit stopped working, or sometime yesterday. I use it to hold me accountable to walk 7000 steps a day, but who wants to count them? So I went online to discover that my tracker is no longer syncing with its account. Apparently there is an upgrade that has not been downloaded and the tracker simply quit.
Funny how nearly everything that happens has a spiritual connection. I thought of how needful it is to be filled with the Holy Spirit and not rely on my own devices or strength. To do that, I must be in sync with the Lord. That is, if I am resisting God, I cannot resist the devil or temptation at the same time.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
This idea of not being able to serve or yield to God and the enemy at the same time applies also to other things such as money and worldly pleasures.
No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (Luke 16:13)
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 desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. (1 John 2:15–16)
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. (Galatians 5:16–17)
This principle not only applies to my relationship with God; it affects every part of life. I cannot pray without guarding against distractions that ruin all conversation with God. I cannot try to figure out problems His way unless my focus is on His way. This matter of yielding to God and making Him the center of my life goes even farther:
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. (1 Corinthians 10:31–33)
Eating and drinking are normal activities of life and yet not to be separated from worship or my witness to God’s glory. In the same line, seeking His glory is connected to pleasing others in an effort to win them to Jesus. Being in sync with God is not only required, it is required no matter what I am doing.
PRAY: Jesus, there are days where my mind is all over the place. To be in sync with You, I need Your Spirit and Your power. Such vivid focus is totally beyond my ability. That is the why for being yielded to You and filled with the Holy Spirit all the time, but it is also the only way to do Your will and live for You. Keep me in sync today. I’m not sure I’ll get that Fitbit working properly, but I know that You can do what needs to be done that I can worship and serve You and others as You want me to.
In being very ill and in the hospital for a few days, I experienced something valuable; God uses what seems bad for good. The greatest example is Jesus. The worst evil that ever happened was His crucifixion — the best thing that ever happened was His death and resurrection that brought eternal salvation to the world:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16–17)
Compared to that, my experience is nothing, yet “bad” things can result in eternal good. I know of a boy who was trapped in a burning vehicle. The radio was on and a pastor prayed for the salvation of all who suffered and thinking he would die, that boy gave his life to Jesus. He was rescued, scarred for the rest of his days, but saved for eternity with Jesus.
I know a woman who decided to divorce her husband. She liked someone else but that didn’t work either and in her despair, Jesus came info her life. Her bad decision affected her eternal destiny. For these, but mostly because the Word of God says it, God’s love is at work even in trouble. He is the One who sends Jesus to us in our suffering:
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; (Isaiah 61:1–2)
It says “all.” His power is not just for certain people but everyone who is poor, brokenhearted, in captivity of any kind, and who mourn. He wants me to be like that toward others also, not forgetting the “all” so I am not picky or a respecter of persons.
And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. (1 Thessalonians 5:14)
The very ones who need comfort most are not the strong-minded but the faint of heart, the weak. This goes two ways. If I am feeling like that, my comfort is from Jesus, fixing the problem, not in feeling stronger or more capable. Not that this allows me to curl up in a ball and quit, for the text says to admonish the idle. I am told to serve others even if my sense of weakness and being faint-hearted comes from doing so. That means both those served and those who He calls to serve them may experience this sense of being unable. We do not like it. I constantly need to remember what Paul heard from God when he prayed for his own weakness to be removed:
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. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
God’s grace is sufficient and because of that, Paul not only quit asking for his weakness to be ‘fixed’ but began to glory in it because it meant that the power he experienced was not his own but from Jesus Christ.
This is the glory of being a disciple of the Lord. He is far more aware of my weaknesses and inabilities than I am, and allows trials, like a bout with pneumonia, to show me how little I know about weakness. Not only that, He used the kindness of medical people to show me how little I know about comforting others who are weak.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. (2 Corinthians 1:3–5)
This applies to my attitude toward those who sin. I’m not to judge them but be like Jesus to them. Some people refused to receive him, and when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. (Luke 9:53–55) He welcomed sinners that others rejected.
PRAY: Jesus, You are always on the side of sinners for whom You came to save. You died for us. Yes, many say NO to You, yet You always say YES to all who realize their need of You and turn toward You. May I always realize that weakness is an opportunity to experience Your power, and may my life demonstrate Your loving comfort to others, today and always.
Today’s devotional presents a theological position that I’m not sure I agree with. Years ago I read many books by Watchman Nee. In part, my take-away was that humans are body, soul, and spirit. Body is the physical, soul is intellect, emotion and volition, and spirit is the inner person that is able to connect with God, know sin, and be aware of spiritual matters — but only if the spirit is made alive by God through faith in Jesus Christ. Otherwise, the spirit is dead to (separated from) God because of sin.
Nee illustrated this in concentric circles with the visible body on the outer ring, the soul next, and the spirit in the very center. He said we are to live by a renewed spirit that listens to and obeys God, not merely by our reasoning, emotions or will. However, he also taught that the soul when under the influence of a new spirit, is made new also. We just need to learn how to live according to the spirit and not allow the desires of the old nature (body and soul) take the place of God’s Spirit speaking to our spirit.
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 desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15–17)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. (Proverbs 3:5–7)
And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” (Luke 22:40–42)
Scripture indicates that I should not be relying on my own ideas, emotions and desires, or even my will when it comes to following Christ. Not that He cannot use these faculties, but that the impetus or motivation comes from His Spirit to my spirit.
This means I should not reverse this order. That is, when I get an idea the Word of God will tell me where it comes from. Jesus said that “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.” (John 7:17) The source of what I hear is important. My thinking needs to agree with the will of God, meaning that obedience is not only about choice or volition, but also about study and using my brains to know God’s will so I can recognize where that idea comes from.
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:12–13)
Sometimes I realize the brain wave is fleshy (from my old nature) by recognizing who will get the glory, but not always. Sin and self-centered or soulish life can subtle. I need the Bible to discern my intentions and to show me whether Jesus is honored by my actions or I just want to be put on a pedestal.
Faith can be influenced by my will, but why I need to be careful about “believing by choosing to believe.” The Bible says faith comes by hearing (Romans 10) and is a gift from God, yet being willing to hear fits in there also. God wants all my “parts” surrendered to Him.
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
PRAY: Jesus, I remember the moment when You came to me and opened my heart to know who You are and what You did at Calvary. Hearing You speak was a stupendous revelation to a weary and broken heart whose soul had no answers, no joy, and was unwilling and unable to make things better. But You, in an instant changed all that by choosing me — as You said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you…” (John 15:16) and then put Your Spirit on the throne of my life.
Today’s devotional makes a statement that can only apply to Christians. The writer speaks about failure to believe and separates the honest doubts of seekers from the unbelief in those who believe in Christ for salvation but struggle when lacking understanding of all the Bible says. The author claims:
Doubts are to be overcome not by reasoning but by faith. “I will believe; I choose to believe,” have been the weapons with which I have conquered in many a fierce battle. For the will has far more to do with our believing than most people think.
Combine that statement with Christ’s words, “Not my will but thine be done” to see that even He choose to trust the Father rather than Himself. He always did, and in Him we have the ability to choose who we trust. This is a gift, not something we already have.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)
Salvation is a gift of grace through faith which is also a gift. No one believes without it:
As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10–12)
This means that without the indwelling Holy Spirit that comes with salvation and the gift of faith, no one can choose to believe. Sin ruined our power of choice. When confronted with the gospel, no one will say yes to it unless the Holy Spirit grants that gift of faith — the gift that comes to us through hearing, not through deciding we will believe, because sin voids that option. The reign of “almighty me” will not select it.
That said, what about me? Can I choose to believe? Do I try to reason out a matter rather than trust God? Do I have the power and desire in me to say yes to what He says?
Romans 6 speaks of what is true and as Jesus said, believing truth sets us free.
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. (Romans 6:1–8)
This death is about separation from God, not just a physical death. Yet at the same time, even Paul wrote of the difficulty of believing in Chapter 7. He was aware that the crucified self keeps popping up. Even though it is dead to God and sin, the old me keeps trying to run my life. Paul finished by saying:
Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (Romans 7:16–25)
PRAY: Jesus, Paul’s choice is also mine; I can serve You or do what that old flesh wants. The flesh cannot obey You and that is precisely why I need a Savior; I cannot save myself for my flesh will always pick sin. Thank God for new life and the ability to choose to trust and serve You. Yes, I must see this helplessness of my will so I can choose to say Thy will be done instead of insisting on my own way.
