Choices

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1 Kings 22:5 First Seek God’s Counsel

But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “First seek the counsel of the Lord.” 1 Kings 22:5

Choices are required to be made on a regular basis. There are often pros and cons to which way a person makes a choice in many situations. Deciding which way to choose can sometimes be very difficult. During times of a difficult decision-making process, many will seek out advice from some other person or source.

Corporations and businesses will often have full boards to help make the right choice. Individuals will seek friends and online sources to make that choice.

King Ahab and King Jehoshaphat were trying to decide whether to fight against the king of Aram. Jehoshaphat was willing to help but wanted to seek the counsel of God first.

Most people will seek the counsel of friends and other sources to make major decisions in their lives. Resources are abundant on any decision that must be made. Many of these resources may have good points about them, but none of them have the complete big overall picture of the situation. All that is seen is on the surface.

Believers have the opportunity to seek God in making any decision in life. God is ready and willing to impart His wisdom into any situation.

However, just like the world, many believers do not seek God’s counsel first. They often run to the things of this world and in their own personal wisdom. In this process, many disastrous decisions are made. They may look good on the surface and in the immediate moment, but in the end only bring about greater problems.

When faced with a decision, the first thing a believer must do is seek God’s wisdom. Finding out what God would choose and doing it will always lead to success in the end.

You will often have some major and minor decisions to make. As you approach making a choice in those decisions, first go to God to seek His wisdom and counsel in the situation.

The counsel of the world will always point you in the wrong direction, into selfishness and greed that will end in death, not necessarily physical death, but death to character, integrity, and other Godly characteristics.

Allow God to be the first one you run to for wisdom and direction. He will never lead you down the wrong path in any decision that needs to be made.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will seek God’s wisdom in any choice to be made; that God will reveal His will for your life; and that you will see God’s hand of favor in following His counsel.

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Judges 21:25 Doing As You Want

In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit. Judges 21:25

Everybody loves freedom. They love to be able to do and say what they want, when they want and how they want with no one to tell them that they cannot do something.

Although people know leadership and rules are needed, many will fight against leadership and rules. No one wants to be tied down to someone else’s commands. Any time that there is no one to lead or correctly guide them, people will begin to do as they see fit, throwing out most rules.

Israel had a time in which they had no king, so the people chose to do as they saw fit.

Nations that do not have a king will always have someone to lead them in some form of government. The manner in which that leader leads them will often dictate how the people will choose to live their lives.

In nations that treasures freedom, people will often put leaders in position that will not really lead but will allow freedom to reign. People are allowed to do nearly anything and everything that they want, throwing out all former rules in the belief of full freedom. The result of this is that there is chaos and death.

Many believers and churches have chosen the ways of the world, claiming freedom under grace, rather than following God’s ways.

God is a God of rules and order that bring about life, abundant and eternal life, not just a temporary pleasure. Although God’s rules may appear to be restrictive, they are there to guide one to true living.

Regardless of what national leader a believer has, God must be his king and ruler of his life. He must be willing to live as God desires, not as he sees fit.

You may live in a nation that pushes freedom or one that is more restrictive and controlling. Either one should not make a difference in how you live your life.

Make the choice to allow God to be the King and Ruler in your life. Allow the Holy Spirit to dictate every action, word and thought in your life. Living in this way will bring you life that will extend into eternity. It will remove chaos and bring about order.

Honor God with your whole life, serving Him with everything in you, not just serving self.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you make Jesus the King of your life; that you will obey the commands of God; and that you will only do what God directs you to do.

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Judges 20:26-27a Seeking God’s Direction

Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the Lord. They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord. And the Israelites inquired of the Lord. Judges 20:26-27a

Major decisions have to be made once in a while by individuals or groups of people. When faced with making these types of decisions, many people will seek the advice and direction from other people, along with their past experiences.

People will often desire to know the pros and cons of making a decision.

The Israelites were trying to decide whether to attack the Benjamite clan or not. They fasted, prayed and gave offerings to God and then asked God what to do.

It is very difficult for most people to make a decision when the results of that choice could be very disastrous or very good. No one wants to make the wrong choice and have to pay for it in the end.

Seeking the guidance from other people will often miss the bigger picture. People cannot see the future results of both sides of the choice. The world will always choose what looks better in the moment and for self, rather than what is best for everyone, both now and in the future.

Instead of seeking God with all of their heart for a decision, many believers will go to those in the world for an answer.

Believers must be willing to set their own selfish and sinful ways aside and seek God’s direction. God sees everything perfectly and always knows the best choice to make. His ways and thoughts are above those of any person and will not always make sense, but are always what is best. And He is willing to guide and direct people in every area of their lives.

There will be times when you have to make a major decision that will have very different results based upon the choice that is made. Do not rely upon your own personal wisdom or just the wisdom of other people.

Take time to fast and pray to God for direction on the choice to be made. Wait for God to answer you and then follow His directions. Allow God to guide your every step so that you may stay in His will.

Are you seeking His will today?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will hear God’s voice guiding you; that you will be led by God’s Holy Spirit; that you will make all your choices based on God’s direction; and that God will give you strength and boldness to obey His commands.

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Exodus 32:22 Passing Blame

“Do not be angry, my lord,” Aaron answered. “You know how prone these people are to evil.” Exodus 32:22

When people are confronted with having done something wrong, many will try to give an excuse or reason why they did what they did. In that process they will quickly shift the blame to someone else.

Pointing out someone else’s fault is easy for most people. They are quick to pass the blame for what has been done wrong, rather than take personal responsibility.

Moses had confronted Aaron for making an idol for the people to worship. Aaron told him not to be angry because the people are quick to do evil.

Every person has a choice to make as to whether he will do something or not. In reality, no one can make anyone else do anything that the person does not really want to do.

The challenge comes in to how much pressure one is willing to go through to stand against doing some sin. Most people do not like to go against the flow of the norm or to stand out as different or rebellious, so they are quick to cave in to the pressure to sin.

Once they sin and are confronted, they will blame others as to why they did what they did, rather than just own the sin and repent.

Believers are to be set apart, different in this fallen world. Even though every person around one may sin in a certain way, the believer needs to stand on God’s word and refuse to sin. And if he does sin, he must be willing to admit the sin and repent of it. God is ready, willing and able to forgive any sin that is repented of.

Blaming others is not repentance, but just a lame excuse to avoid repenting.

You will have times that you will be pressured to sin against God. You have a choice to make as to whether you will sin or not.

There will be times where you will sin. Don’t try to get out of owning your sins by blaming others. God sees and knows the heart. Rather than just pass the blame onto others, own it and repent of it before God. He is ready, willing and able to forgive you of any sin when you repent.

If you do not repent, He cannot forgive. Are you willing to repent?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will own any sins you have committed against God; that you will not blame others for your sins; that you will repent of any sins before God; and that you will know God’s love, mercy and forgiveness.

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Genesis 25:33 Selling Out For The Temporary

But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Genesis 25:33

Feeling hungry is something that most people do not like to feel. Many are willing to go to extreme measures when they are extremely hungry. The more hungry one is, the further one will go to be willing to get and eat most anything.

This same feeling and action occur with nearly every desire that people have. People want immediate satisfaction no matter what the cost is in the end. All that is looked at is the immediate moment of need or desire.

Esau was starving and wanted some food that Jacob had. Jacob had Esau swear to give him his birthright for a bowl of soup and some bread.

Birthright was the title given to the eldest son and meant that he would get the greatest inheritance when the father passed away. It was something of great honor and value. Esau gave that up for a temporary bowl of soup.

In life there are many people who are willing to risk their careers, reputation, family and more just for a short-term temporary pleasure.

Many go into extreme debt just so they can have some new toy right away that they do not really need. Some believers will choose to step into temporarily ‘fun’ sin to please their physical pleasures, bringing about a lifetime of challenges. Others, in a fit of rage, will choose to get revenge on someone for a temporary pleasure of satisfaction of anger that causes problems for life.

True believers in God will always look at the larger picture that God provides. It is better to give up a little temporary sinful pleasure and gain eternal life, than it is to have a moment of sin and an eternity of suffering. No believer should give up the holiness Jesus provides for temporary pleasure in sin.

There will be times in your life in which your physical body will want things that are sinful for a moment. You have a choice to make each and every time.

You can choose to stay on the path God has for you and not step into sin, or you can choose to the path of temporary pleasure and sin against God. Sinning against God will create problems for your future that can last for eternity.

Hold on to what Jesus has given you and don’t sellout for temporary pleasures.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will seek to always follow God’s ways; that you will seek God’s eternal ways rather than the temporary pleasures of this world; and that God will strengthen you to walk in His path for you.