Making Choices

by Kris
(Pearl, Ms, US)

In Sunday School, we have been going over the Lord’s Prayer found in Matthew 6: 9-13.
“Therefore, you should pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
Your name be honored as holy.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And do not bring us into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.

I liked the illustration that the author of the study used in explaining keeping God’s name holy. We, as Christians, bear God’s name. Just as we, as children, bear our parents’ name. the author said that when he went to college, his father gave him a very short speech. He simply said “you bear my name. Don’t take my name anywhere I wouldn’t go and don’t do anything that I would be ashamed to have my name attached to. As Christians, we could apply the same principle and save ourselves lots of the grief that comes with the consequences of sin.

Then, I was reminded to continually work to develop a “Kingdom” vision. (thy Kingdom come) When Jesus was here on earth, everything He did, every choice He made, had Kingdom significance. Nothing was insignificant. The author of the book we are studying challenged us to have “Kingdom vision” . He challenged us to look and things, people, and situations from HIS perspective.

It has been an interesting study. The most interesting thing for me has been found in some of the conversations I have had about this study with people outside of my Sunday School class. After discussing “Thy will be done” with some friends, two different people pulled me aside to discuss how difficult it is to “find God’s will” and to determine “God’s plan” in making decisions.

One way to make a good choice, or to determine whether or not something is “God’s will” or “God’s plan” is to apply the principle that we bear the name of Christ. Don’t take His name anywhere He wouldn’t go or do anything that He would not want His name attached to. Keep God’s name holy.

Added to keeping God’s name holy is having a Kingdom vision. How will this choice or action that I am contemplating affect the Kingdom of God? Will my actions, my choice, my decision, or my reaction make a positive or negative impact on the Kingdom of God?
Finally, add to these 2 principles, “thy will be done”. This is perhaps the easiest, and hardest, of the 3. First and foremost, it is never God’s will for any of us to sin. Never. So, if we are facing a decision and one or more of our choices involve sin, we can mark that choice or those choices off the list. Why? Because it is NEVER God’s will for us to sin or to be involved in sin. This is the EASIEST of the choices because God’s word is CLEAR about sin and how much God hates it. This is a HARD only because our sinful nature tries to justify our desire for sinful things.

So, when making a choice or when trying to determine God’s will for your life or for a certain situation, apply this section of the Lord’s prayer....

Your name be honored as holy. (vs9)
Are there any options that do not honor God? Mark those choices off your list.

Your kingdom come. (vs 10)
Are there any options that do not build up the Kingdom of God? Are there any options that you have to defend or justify to your Christian friends? Are there any options that hurt your witness for Christ? Mark these choices off the list as well.

Your will be done. (vs 10)
Are there any options on your list that involve sin? Do any of your options require you to sin of you choose them? God NEVER wants us to sin. If any of the options on your list involve sin (Thou shall not lie, covet, steal, commit adultery to name a few from the Old Testament and Don’t be jealous, gossip, be drunk with much wine, and slander are a few from the New Testament.)

What do you do now when faced with a tough decision? Are your choices in line with God’s word?

Have you prayed about it as much as you have talked about it?

How much anxiety, stress, and pressure have you put on yourself over the years by NOT making choices based on what Honors God, Brings Glory to God, and being obedient to His word?


Father God,
I love you and I do want to honor you with my life. I know that my life is made up of the decisions I make every day. Help me Lord to start today to seek your will in the choices I make, both big and small. Create in me a hunger and thirst for your Word so that I will know how to obey you. Help me Lord to seek and heed the advice of Christian friends. Mostly, place a desire in my heart to please you with my life. Let all my choices bring Honor and Glory to your name and a greater desire to obey You in all things.
Amen


Until next time!
((Hugs!))
K