“Making the Right Choice”
By Jeannine Sawall
“There is a way that seems right to
a man, but in the end it leads to death.”
Proverbs 14:12 (NIV)
So
much is written about hope, about change, and the many promises we receive as
believers. We can find devotionals filled with writings about suffering and
desperation, relationships and marriage, children and even pets. We can find
devotionals relating to hobbies, sports and friendships. But there are
few, if any, devotional books that cover sin and the responsibility of personal
choice. Those books would probably be found at the half-price bookstore in the
dollar bin! When it comes to sin, we don’t want to be reminded that we had a
choice in the matter. That we are the ones who decided to head our own way and
do our own thing. That we are the ones who said “yes,” when we should have said
“no.”
We can
find countless examples of biblical heroes who suffered the consequences of
going their own way. Abraham and Sarah, David, Sampson, Jacob and Rachel. Each
of these people made a choice to take a path independent of God. Each of them
focused on his or her own way. Each of them decided his or her way was better
than God’s way. Each of them had to pay the cost of that choice.
Any
time our focus moves from looking for God and fixates on “me,” we can be sure
we are going to make choices that take us down the path of disappointment and
destruction. Any time we make demands of God or tell Him what He must do, we
can be certain we will be heading in the wrong direction. Any time we make a
choice without involving God in the decision-making process, we can be certain
we are heading toward disaster. It’s a pretty straightforward equation, even if
it’s not a popular equation. Choices made without alignment with God and His
ways bring us into sin.
Our
choices have consequences. When we forge ahead and make those choices
independently, we can’t look back in regret and ask God, “Where were you?” or,
“Why did you allow this to happen?” We need to realize we have left God behind
and take responsibility for our sin. However, in that next moment, we can
confess our sin and be reconciled by the grace of God. The lesson is to then
make sure that the next time we are faced with a choice, we invite God to be a
part of the decision-making process.
Seeking
God in all things is always the right choice!
GOING
DEEPER:
1.
What choices are you making where you need to stop and invite the Lord to be a
part of them?
FURTHER
READING:
Jeannine is a wife and mother of four great
boys. She works in the property management business. Jeannine serves in several
behind-the-scenes ministries at Oakwood and has a heart for those who are
grieving.
