Choosing God
Posted By admin on August 28, 2010
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).
Choice exist where there are alternatives. Joshua is telling Israel the alternatives they have. They could choose the Lord God or choose other gods. Joshua reminds Israel of what God has done for them because without knowledge of the choices we have, making a wise decision can sometimes be challenging. Choosing involves a decision, and decision involves knowledge. Reading through most of the book of Deuteronomy we come across the two alternatives: blessings and curses. God has made it clear from the beginning what benefits we have when we choose Him and what curses lie ahead when we forsake him. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Choosing God means choosing his commandments over our own will, which is sin. Here are God’s requirements “And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul” (Deuteronomy 10:12). Walking contrary to the word of God is sin. We have to love God more than other alternatives we have. When presented with choices we have to choose God consistently over everything else.
Choosing God sometimes is difficult because we don’t want to choose. This happens when we have not yet surrendered our will to God. When we still want to do what we want ; pick and choose among the commandments. “It is better to do both” we may think all the while deceiving ourselves. The word of God cautions us on this wise: “How long halt ye between two opinions if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him” (I Kings 18:21). For even in our failure to choose, we passively make a choice for “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (St. Luke 16:13).
Choosing God also means giving up something. We must make sacrifices, be willing to forfeit temporary pleasures for the sake of the gospel. This fact is mentioned in the Scriptures on this wise: ” By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward (Hebrews 11: 24-26).
The problem is many of us do not want to sacrifice anything. We want it all. We want the pleasures of this world and we want the kingdom too. But these are contrary one to another (Galatians 5: 17). Even Jesus still had to choose. To get the glory Jesus had to endure the cross. Moses had to give up Pharaoh’s palace. So what are you willing to give up for God? There are so many things in our lives and in this world shouting and screaming for our attention. Those which scream the loudest get chosen often at the expense of God.
“Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all this world go free. For there is a cross for every one and there is a cross for you” (Hymn). What will it take for you to choose God? Jesus gave us the answer: “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).
Sometimes to choose God is not easy as you have to loose family, friends, neighbours and colleagues. You will be perceived as anti social and will be treated as an outcast. Abraham had to leave all these behind to choose and follow God, Apostles had to do the same. Christ said if you do not deny, your mother, father, family and your own life you will not be my disciple. Noah had to look/perceived insane because he chose to listen to God, the 3 Hebrew boys risked thier lives for God, same with Daniel, Esther, Job etc. This choice is not made under good circumstances, when it’s convinient. It is a test of faith.
Peace
St. Tebogo Ntshangase