Choices

 

by David Takefe

“I pray that your love will keep on growing more and more, together with true knowledge and perfect judgment, so that you will be able to choose what is best. Then you will be free from all impurity and blame on the Day of Christ. Your lives will be filled with the truly good qualities which only Jesus Christ can produce, for the glory and praise of God.” Philippians‬ ‭1:9-11‬ ‭GNT‬‬

 
Thank you for joining me for part 2 of this study. Last week we saw that anyone who aims at keeping the world out of his life must pay attention to three aspects of his journey in the Faith: His choices, His values, and the Hope. We also learnt that Satan cannot succeed in bringing back into our lives what Christ Jesus has set us free from, without first attempting to tamper with our choices, corrupt our values or blur our vision of the hope.

In continuing this study, we will be focusing on the power of choices. We have mentioned already that satan must first tamper with our choices in order to successfully bring his stuff into our lives and into our relationships. What we mean by “tamper with” is to exert a corrupt or secret influence upon someone. A fact worthy of note is that your daily choices or what you choose is the authority for something to happen to you or for something to come in to your life.

We will be looking closely at this through the prayer of Apostle Paul in Philippians 1:9-11(GNT). Let’s read our study text again:

“I pray that your love will keep on growing more and more, together with true knowledge and perfect judgment, so that you will be able to choose what is best. Then you will be free from all impurity and blame on the Day of Christ. Your lives will be filled with the truly good qualities which only Jesus Christ can produce, for the glory and praise of God.”

Take note of the phrase, “…so that you will be able to choose what is best. Then you will be free from all impurity and blame on the Day of Christ.”

Did you notice the connection between the quality of your life and what you choose?: “…choose what is best. Then you will be free from all impurity and blame…”

As an adverb, the word “then” shows us the consequence of choosing what is best. Here is the point: THE QUALITY OF YOUR LIFE IS TIED TO YOUR DAILY CHOICES.

Your future is in your daily choices. This is because life, whether you know it or not, is a series of choices. Life does not happen by chance; what you choose affect what your experience will be ultimately. Your everyday choices, big or small, whether you are aware of them or not, are the prophecies of your future.

Let’s put what we have said so far a bit differently: your day-to-day choices will ultimately take your life somewhere. The fact is, many people are not thinking about where their choices are taking them, and whether they want to go there.

Where are your choices taking you right now?
Where are your choices taking you in your marriage?
Where are your choices taking you in your relationship with your children?
Where are your choices taking you in your personal health?
Where are your choices taking you financially?
Where are your choices taking you in the ministry and assignment God has given you?
Are your choices taking you where you want to go? Are your choices taking you where God wants you to go?

Your future is in your choices!

The Bible talks about Rueben in 1 Chronicles 5:11. We are told that “…his birth right was given to the sons of Joseph because (take not of his choice) he defiled his father’s bed.”

Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, contracted leprosy instead of receiving a double portion of Elisha’s anointing, because of his greed for money; money that was rejected by his master.

Concerning Judas Iscariot, the bible says, “…may another take his place…” Yes, his place; it was his. But he lost it to another because of his choice.

But concerning women like Ruth, Easter, and Rahab, men like Joseph, Moses and Jesus, they all steered their future in the direction of God’s will by choosing well. The point is, YOUR FUTURE IS IN YOUR DAILY CHOICES. The quality of your life and relationships is in the choices you make daily.

Gain or pain,
Fame or shame,
Gladness or sadness,…
It’s going to depend on your daily choices!

But there is good news! When it comes to choices in life, we are not helpless creatures. While God does not tamper with our freedom to choose, as a caring Father, he has laid down principles that can guide us in ensuring that we make well place decisions or choose what is best.

Sometime back, while researching this topic, someone helped me to see these life-changing principles form the book of 1 Corinthians—four very important questions that must be asked before we make a choice in life, big or small. Pay close attention to the bible passages following the questions.

Question #1: Is it helpful—spiritually, mentally, emotionally?
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.” —1 Corinthians 6:12a

Question #2: Will I be brought under it’s control?
“I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.—1 Corinthians 6:12b

Question #3: Will it hurt anyone?
“Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.” —1 Corinthians 8:13

Question #4: Will it glorify God?
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” —1 Corinthians 10:31
In conclusion, let’s take one more look at Apostles Paul’s prayer as recorded in our study passage.

“I pray that your love will keep on growing more and more, together with true knowledge and perfect judgment, so that you will be able to choose what is best….”

Notice what he says will enable you to choose what is best—Love. Genuine love for God, and for your neighbor will guide your choices. Genuine love aims at glorifying God. True love will always seek to bless is neighbor, both friend and foe. The absence of love in your heart will weaken your capacity to choose what God wants for you and for all those in your life. True love operates from the center of God’s will. Thus Apostle Paul concentrated his prayer on this aspect—that love will keep on growing more and more. A love that is based on the knowledge of who God is and perfect judgment.

Again, your daily choices is the authority or license for something to enter your life. Let love guide you!

Prayer: Precious Father, king of creation, God of all flesh, I ascribe greatness to Your Name. Thank You for showing me our to honor You with my choices. I ask that love will grow more and more in my heart, a love that is full of knowledge and wise insight, releasing in me the power to choose always what You want—Your good, perfect and acceptable Will. Lord may my life be full of true goodness, produced by the power that Jesus gives to the glory and praise of Your Name. Amen!