Making Choices

Making Choices

Romans 14:23
“But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.”

As I said in earlier entries, we are not to be concerned with the individual will for our lives; rather we should look towards the moral will of God. This doesn’t mean that we are to be without knowledge in terms of how to make wise choices. When it comes to the will of God, and doing what is right, it is important to make sure you know what you are doing. All too often, we have condemning heart when we make choices, and for this reason it becomes almost impossible go confidently before God to declare them. (1 John 3:19-20) We doubt, weaver and go back and forth on what we should do, and when we act out, we are often left wondering if we did the right thing. Jesus said let your yes be yes and no be no for a reason. (Matthew 5:37) We are to make sure that with each step we take, we see fruit budding to the sides of the road. (Colossians 1:10) When we act out in faith, we are always to please our Father, for it is our faith in Him that makes us stand on these choices. (Romans 12:4) If we doubt what we do, we no longer have faith that this is what God wants. It is by faith we walk with God, and when we walk without it, we no longer walk with Him. Isaiah makes it very clear that either we stand firm in our faith before God, or we don’t stand before Him at all. (Isaiah 7:9) We need to be sure that what we do is through faith so that it may be acceptable before Him.

How many times have we acted out on emotions and feelings, rather than faith; which is the abandonment of all emotions and rationale. (Hebrews 11:1) Did you not know that each time you acted out of confusion, you were sinning? We are to be certain in our ways, otherwise if someone calls us out on what we are doing, and we can’t give them an honest answer, you’ll be deceiving them and yourself. Paul urges the Romans to make sure that their choice on what to eat is not condemned by those around them. (Romans 14:16) Be certain that the choices that you make are not made in haste or confusion, but be able to go before the Father without grieving your spirit. Make sure that everything you do doesn’t have any form of evil; otherwise you will look guilty among your brothers. (1 Thessalonians 5:22) We have not been given a spirit of anxiety, so if you feel worried, pray for conviction or confirmation. If the Word of God, inspired by the Spirit, divides the soul and spirit and cuts through bone and marrow, will it not clearly lead you in the right direction? (Hebrews 4:12) To live with a spirit of undiscernment, is nothing of God’s fault, but of your own! Seek Him and let the Heavens fill with the aroma of your prayers. (Psalm 141:2)

Brothers and sisters, let our steps be taken with great faith. May we no longer put our hand on the plow and look back, for those who do are not fit for the Kingdom of God. (Luke 9:26)  Let us not be like Lot’s wife who while being lead by God looked back towards her what was behind her. (Genesis 19:26) If we do not move ahead with exceeding faith, we will no longer be walking besides God, but among the thorns. (Hosea 2:6)

In the next letter, I want to look at what happens when we do make the wrong decision and are taken away from the presence of the Lord. It will show the unconditional mercy and love that the Lord has for us when we repent.

-Joseph