Today’s Scripture Reading (January
30, 2017): 2 Kings 17
We thrive on competition. Our
society is built around it. Seth Godin
has written about some of the choices that we have to make – and some possible
reasons why we might choose one over another. His conclusion is that we don’t
have to “like competition in order to
understand that it exists.” So we need to give people a reason to choose
us.
He’s right. This blog is a
devotional blog. It talks about life and politics and history and events in
this world from a spiritual angle. I hope that you read it because it is the
thing that you are looking for – or may even need – at this point in your life. But
in reading this blog – you are making a choice. You didn’t have to stop in
here. A choice is a choice – we all have to make them.
God realizes that we are people
of choices. It is the way he created us –
and he encourages us to make decisions.
In fact, he encourages us to make a choice either for him or against him. Listen
to the words of Jesus in Revelation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you
were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to
spit you out of my mouth (Revelation 3:15-16). What disturbs God is when we don’t
make a choice; when we allow ourselves to
be simply blown around by the culture winds that surround us.
And that was a big problem for
the Israelites. They weren’t really
making a choice. With their mouths they praised God, but then they secretly did
things against God. Their public persona
may have led people to believe that they were followers of the God of Israel –
but privately their actions didn’t back up the public witness. They hadn’t made a choice.
Our lives are full of choices –
and the only way to choose God is to go all the way and commit fully to him.
There is no part way – it is all, or make another choice. Either way, God can work through us – and can lead us
to him. But when we go only half way – then we are deluded, and that delusion seems to move us outside of the
influence and voice of God.
What choice is your life
making? (And thanks for choosing to read my blog.)
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2
Chronicles 29
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