We Have a Choice~

Greetings~

 

Yesterday we learned that we have been set free and Galatians 5:13 says, “It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life.”

God has called us to be free, and because we are free, we have a choice.  We can either live God’s way or our own way.  And what is God’s way anyway? And what is our way?   

Verses 19-21 provide some eye-opening insight: “It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.”

Like my husband would say, “Hot dog and a corn bread!”

Those are some powerful words, and none of us wants any of that.  But when we look around at what is happening in society, maybe even right next door, or GASP! in our own homes, it’s frighteningly evident that a bunch of us – to a certain degree –  are trying to get our own way rather than doing it God’s way. 

Isn’t life hard enough already?  Yet some of us live with divided homes and an accumulation of emotional garbage.  I have lost track of how many marriages I know that have ended up in turmoil because one or both spouses felt they had a right to be happy no matter what the consequences.  So many folks desperately grab for any little thing they think will bring them peace, but they are joyless.  They buy this and buy that, but still feel crushing sadness.  Both my kids grew up playing sports, and I would often see parents have toddler-like meltdowns because their child wasn’t doing good enough, or chosen first, or accepted into a prestigious tournament.  They were so sure that being the best of the best was the answer to living a satisfied life.  But look at all the famous and successful people; I can’t think of one person who I would trade places with.

This passage is really saying that when we fail to plug into Christ on a daily basis and seek His blessings and guidance, we wind up doing things as we see fit, and the results are disastrous.

Fifteen years ago this month I had a conversation with another mom from my kids’ elementary school where she said, “My son is a Jesus fanatic.  I wish he would tone it down.”

I briefly debated in my mind what my response should be.  I figured that part of being a Christian is that we are to be Christ’s biggest fans.  If I can yell with glee when the Miami HEAT wins a game, can’t I get excited about eternal life?  Yet this mom, whose kids were all in a private Christian school, by the way, was bothered by her Bible-reading, Jesus-trusting, praying son.  I could have cried.

I simply replied that I had never heard of a mom who could be upset that her son was loving and honest.  That I had no idea what a “perfectly balanced Christian” should look like.  That I didn’t know where to draw the line of trusting Him too much as opposed to just enough.  I remember thinking that maybe she would have been happier if her son were sleeping around and taking drugs.  I didn’t get it then, and I still don’t understand.  Everyone I know wants joy, blessings, peace, commitment, and love.  And the first step is to stop trying to get our own way and do it His way, which we will finally explore tomorrow.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, If we look around there is an abundance of dissatisfaction and misery.  But we choose You and the joy You promise.  We choose You and the peace that comes from trusting You.  We choose You and the very health that permeates our bones when we pray.  And in case someone we love is not quite there yet, we pray for You to fill them up with joy, peace, and health anyway.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~