Choices
by Malcolm Wood
As I write this, the people of the UK are voting for their next government. After months of debates, and persuasive speeches by the politicians, as men and women across Britain put their crosses on the paper and drop it in the ballot box they will have made their decision. All they can do then is to wait for the result and prepare to live with the consequences of that decision. (When you read this we will know the results!)
Every day we all make many decisions. Admittedly not all decisions are as significant as voting in a new government, but nevertheless all have their consequences to a greater or lesser extent. Which shirt or skirt we choose to wear or which cereal we choose to have for breakfast or which TV channel to watch will not be life-changing, but other decisions are.
Choices of employment, marriage partner, where to live, where to worship, where to go on holiday, and what car to buy all have an impact on our lives. The consequences of a wrong decision can be significant, far reaching and costly in terms of relationships and finance.
God has created each of us with a free will - that ability to choose and make decisions. The verse above comes from the account of the time when Joshua gave the children of Israel a choice to either follow after foreign gods or to follow the true God. As leader his decision was quite clear. He said ‘But as for me and my family we will serve the Lord’ (Joshua 24:15). How much we need men and women like that these days, who have the courage of their convictions, and speak and act accordingly.
Daniel was such a person. He made the choice between whether to be politically correct and pray to the king, or remain true to his convictions and pray to the true God, and face the consequences. His decision had significant consequences. He was thrown into a den of lions! But the end of the story is that Daniel was saved and God was glorified (see Daniel 6:1-28).
God chooses us, and calls us to come to Him (Romans 8:30). When we do He’s promised the help of His Spirit as our guide (John 16:13). So the Apostle Paul instructs the Church at Galatia, ‘Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives’ (Galatians 5:16). As believers we have the person of the Holy Spirit to help us with our decision making, in both large and small decisions. Not only can He help us make decisions, but He strengthens us, and helps us to live with the consequence of those decisions, however easy or challenging they might be.
Every day we have a choice whether to speak, walk and act in ways which are pleasing to God, or not. The choice is ours!
‘The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand’ (Psalm 37:23-24).
Prayer: Dear Lord, please help me to choose only to do the things which please You. Amen.
Malcolm Wood and his wife Anna became part of the Ellel family as House Managers at Ellel Grange in 1990. Since then they have been involved with many aspects of the developing Ministry. From 2001 until 2015 they were Directors of Ellel Scotland where they hosted several International Schools and Operation Blairmore and helped pioneer the exciting Creative Inspiration Weeks. They have three sons.
Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship. Provided full acknowledgement is made to Seeds of the Kingdom as the source, you are also welcome to use it in a non-commercial way and reproduce it in magazines or other Christian websites. The copyright for any commercial use of the material remains with Ellel Ministries International.
