pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: choice


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Offer Forgiveness, Find Freedom

Forgiveness can be a hard thing to offer.  We are not talking about the garden variety ‘sorry’ when we bump into someone in the hall but the kind that take some effort because the hurt was deep and it lingers still.

Peter asks Jesus if forgiving someone seven times is enough.  I think Peter thought it was more than forgiving someone a few times, so he thought was doing well.  But Jesus says ‘no Peter, forgive seventy-seven times’. (Or seventy times seven in some translations!)  Jesus is really telling Peter to just keep forgiving – forever.  That’s hard.  But a lot of Jesus’ truths are hard.  It takes effort and commitment to follow Jesus and to seek to live as He lived.

So often when we choose not to forgive – and make no mistake, it is a choice – the one we are hurting most is ourself.  Frequently the offender has moved on or does not even know the hurt they caused was so deep, yet we can fixate and dwell on the event and the hurt caused.  We can even allow it to consume us.  This is not healthy nor is it following Jesus’ directive.

By choosing to forgive, we first acknowledge in our heart the need for healing and restoration.  As we offer it to the other, our healing is made complete.  We are set free for that which bound us and we return to living as a whole, healthy child of God.

Scripture reference: Matthew 18: 21-22


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More and More

The struggle to fit in and to be liked is a mighty big struggle.  Everyone wants these things so we sometimes struggle to be who God calls us to be.  We can compromise who we are in order to be accepted or to be a part of a certain circle of friends or coworkers.  Often it is just a ‘little thing’ we compromise on, but even this can start us down the wrong path.  Maybe in our minds it is small and not obviously ‘evil’ but it is not the choice God calls us to.  Sometimes we say, ‘just this once’ but it usually is never just one time.

In Romans 12 Paul challenges us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices so that we can discern God’s perfect and pleasing will.  When we seek His will, we begin to focus in on how to live a Christian life.  When we spend time in prayer to discern His will for the decisions we face, then He will reveal the choice we are to make.

As we spend more and more time in prayer and discernment, we come to know more and more God’s intent for our lives and we see more clearly who He calls us to be.  Let our worship this day be the conscious choice to live as God’s child today.

Scripture reference: Romans 12: 1-2


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Who Will You Choose?

How many times are you willing to ask a child to clean their rooms before you ‘tell them to (or else)?  How many times will a new acquaintance disappoint you until you decide not to pursue a friendship with that person?  If you are like me, I’d guess the answer to that question is ‘a few’.

Now imagine how great God’s love is that He pursues sinners like you and me relentlessly!  No matter how many times we fail, He is right there with open arms, a loving smile, and a welcoming heart.  What a love!

Pretty amazing!  Then add in the idea of free will.  We are not forced to choose God.  He does not lay out our lives in a predestined fashion.  The path we walk is the path we choose.  We set the course of our journey of faith.  Yes, on a daily basis, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, He battles Satan for our souls. Yet in the end, it is our choice.  In light of the great love He has for us and the freedom He offers, who will you choose to serve this day?

Scripture reference: Genesis 25: 19-34


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He Loves Us!!!

Satan is crafty and wise.  He is skillful.  And he is always on the prowl.  The angles and means of his attacks are actually quite impressive.  Satan uses many voices to plant fear, doubt, anxiety, guilt, lust… in our heads and hearts – some from inside our own heads, some from the voices of those we know, some from society and the media.At every chance he is working to build up our pride, our stubbornness, our individualism.  All with one goal – to pull us away from God.

But God doesn’t pull back.  He simply invites us into a relationship.  He says, “Here I am, come.”  He offers us love, no strings attached.  God is our true friend.  These things never change.

In our faith we need to be vigilant and alert to Satan’s attacks.  But just as sure as the attacks are to come, we can be even more sure of God’s love and care.  When we call upon  the saving name of Jesus, then Satan will flee.  God will strengthen us and will help us to be steadfast and firm.  God will never fail us because He loves us too much to allow that to happen.


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Choices We Face

Life and prosperity or … death and destruction? Seems a pretty simple choice when put that way, doesn’t it? When one thinks in these terms concerning the big picture, it is hard to imagine many choosing death and destruction. But in the day to day decisions, we don’t always see things in this way. How easy it is to choose something that leads more toward death and destruction than towards life and prosperity!

In our decisions, if it is painted as “good” versus “evil” most would choose good. Few would explicitly choose evil. In life versus death we often think that death is so far away and it hardly seems a decision. If our neck were in a noose or if we had a gun to our head, then the choice would seem more real but it would hardly be a choice at that point! But Satan is much trickier than this!

Once one is on the path of following Christ it can seem almost easy. The daily following of God’s ways and His commands leads to a sense of contentment and knowing that no matter what, you are loved. Storms of life seem to be a bit less rocky; although they do come, there is a peace that resides in Christ that allows us to lean into Him during the trials of life.

But much can keep us from the path and much can pull at us once on the path. Sometimes is it just us – our ego, our judging attitudes, our need to be in control, ______ … you fill in your blank! Sometimes it is the messages culture and the media throw at us. So much points to other gods and idols. Sometimes it is so hard to see the path that leads to life eternal. But in those times, we can pray simple words asking the Holy Spirit to guide and lead us. Through our faith, God will show the way. Come Holy Spirit, come!!