39 Sermon Illustrations on Decisions

Church conflicts often center on the issue of control. Older members do not want younger ones to push them out of leadership. A balancing act is often needed.

#804

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Decisions don't have to be as hard as we sometimes make them.

I have always had difficulty making decisions. Pondering what to order from a menu immobilizes me. Deciding where to go on a vacation preoccupies me for weeks. Weighing which academic project to give a summer's vacation to makes me reflective and anxious. It gets even more complicated and I get more confused when I consider what God wants me to do. What, I keep asking myself, is the will of God for my life? Does God want me to take a new job or to stay where I am? Does God want me to speak at a family camp next summer or to spend the week at home with my kids? Does God want me to write another book or to do more administrative work at the college? Does God want me to marry or to remain single?

I may be asking the wrong question. When we ask, "What is the will of God for my life?" we usually have in mind some decision we made in the past and now regret, or some decision we must make in the future about which we are uncertain. But the will of God has less to do with the past or future and more to do with the present. We have no power to reverse decisions we have made in the past, and we may not know in precise terms what God wants us to do in the future. But we do know what God wants us to do in the present. We already know the will of God! Thus, no matter what we have done in the past or will do in the future, we can always, always give ourselves to the will of God we know now.

THE BIBLE AND GOD'S WILL

The biblical authors do not seem to agonize much over the will of God, at least as it is popularly understood today. When they explore the subject, they do not, as we often do, struggle, waffle, and question for days on end. If anything, the question itself is often a rhetorical one that leads to a simple and unequivocal answer. For example, when a crowd of people asked Jesus about the will of God, Jesus replied, "What God wants you to do is to believe in the one He sent" (see John 6:29).

Paul was equally clear. He concluded his great theological treatise of Romans 1-11 by spelling out the most important and immediate implication. "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Rom 12:1-2). To believers in Thessalonica Paul exhorted, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thess 5:16-17).

The will of God, as it turns out, is not something we need to discover, for it is as plain as the nose on our face. Rather, it is something we need to do. God wills that we repent of our sins, believe the gospel (Mark 1:15), and obey God's commands, especially that we love God and love one another (Matt 22:37-40, John 15:12).

If in the minds of biblical authors there is agony involved, it is not in the process of discovering the will of God, but in the difficulty of doing it. Jesus knew what His mission was. He knew that it would culminate in His crucifixion. He asked His Father in heaven to "remove the cup" before His execution, yet submitted to God's will, obediently embracing His destiny of suffering and death. Likewise, the Apostle Paul did not seem to wrestle much with the problem of discerning the will of God for his life. It was doing the will of God that created such zeal and even fear in him. He spoke with great foreboding about disobeying God's will for his life: "Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!" (1 Cor 9:16).

In the rare moments when I am ruthlessly honest with myself, I realize that my anxious efforts to discover the will of God distract me from facing the real issue. I simply do not do the will of God that is already clear to me. I would rather assign the will of God to the far-off future, where I can safely or anxiously contemplate it as a range of options from which I must choose one. That option seems far safer than treating it as it really is, a set of commands (e.g., the general principles of the Ten Commandments) that show me in no uncertain terms how I should live my life every day in the light of God's grace. My problem is not that I do not know the will of God; it is that I do not do the will of God I already know. It is not ignorance that plagues me; it is lack of faith and stubbornness of heart. I am like a child who worries about what she is going to do on the weekend as a convenient excuse for not doing the chores assigned for the day.

PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

We may have difficulty discovering the will of God for our lives because we misunderstand the biblical concept of time. God dwells in eternity (Psalm 90); He is therefore not bound by time. There is no past or future to God. All times are the present to Him. But we are bound by time. There is a past to our experience, just as there is a future. We carry the past with us in the form of consequences of decisions that we have no power to change; we anticipate the future as a range of possibilities that may or may not be realized. But we can only live in the present. "I tell you," Paul wrote, "now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor 6:2). We have only the present in which to love, trust, and obey God.

How we view time, then, will affect how we understand the will of God. If the will of God is associated in our minds with a bad decision we made in the past, we will become preoccupied with the past and live with regrets. "If only I had not taken that job," we will say to ourselves. "If only I had not married so quickly and impulsively." "If only I had not drunk so much that night." Soon we will begin to believe that we missed the will of God for our lives because of bad decisions we made in the past, and we will be left only with longing and regret. The past will be like the dust stirred up by a speeding car on a dirt road, which then lingers in the air and suffocates us.

If, on the other hand, we associate the will of God with a decision we must make in the future, we will become preoccupied with the future and live in anxiety. What if there is no clear direction? What if all our options are good ones, every one of which could be the will of God? What if we simply cannot decide? What if we made the wrong choice, though we have no way of knowing whether or not it is wrong? This uncertainty will cause us to keep looking ahead, always to the future, and obsess about decisions that have to be made. The future will be like a mirage that appears in the distance, shimmering, inviting us to rush toward it. But it keeps receding from us, always remaining just out of reach, refusing to yield to us.

But if we associate the will of God with decisions we can make in the present, we will be empowered to do the will of God we already know. We will direct all of our energies into the now. What is more, we will receive grace for the past. Though there is nothing we can do to reverse the past, there is much we can do to change how we respond to the past. Only God through Christ can forgive us for past sins and redeem the past by using it as a tool in the present to transform us. Thus we never have to live outside the will of God in the present if we repent of our sins and cast ourselves on the mercy of God. A person could be in prison for crimes committed in the past but still do the will of God in the present. If we do the will of God we already know, we will no longer have to live with regrets over past misdeeds but instead be able to embrace the grace of God given in the present moment. Paul describes this kind of grace as the grace of no regrets. Godly repentance will lead us into that kind of radical grace (2 Cor 7:5-12).

We will also experience the peace of God concerning the future. Of course, there is nothing we can do to control the future. It will continue to loom before us, forever eluding our grasp, surprising us with strange twists and turns. Worrying about the future will not change it. If anything, worry will keep us from doing what holds the greatest promise to INFLUENCE the future: Prepare for it in the present.

I have met people who worry so much about whether they will be able to find a stable job in the future that they never prepare themselves for need to the job they want. I have talked with people who fret so much over whether they will find a suitable marriage partner that they never become the kind of person a suitable marriage partner would want to marry.

Worry erodes the spirit, distracts the mind, dulls our creativity. It keeps us from embracing this present moment, which is the only one we have. If we use the present wisely and trust that, no matter what happened in the past or may happen in the future, God will work all things together for good for those who have been called according to His purposes (Rom 8:28), we can believe that God will redeem the past and prepare us for the future. As Jesus said, "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matt 6:34).

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

Still, we cannot avoid decisions about the future. That decisions have to be made is obvious. That the will of God may be unclear is equally obvious. So what do we do?

When I reflect on Scripture, a pattern emerges. We can make decisions about the future in freedom and with security, trusting that our decisions are within the will of God, provided we fulfill four criteria: that we seek God above all else, that we pursue our unique sense of calling, that we live within the moral boundaries prescribed in Scripture, and that we remain open to God's divine interruptions.

SEEK GOD.

The most important principle is the first: We must seek God above all else (Mt. 6:33). We should pray for God's will to be revealed. Praying itself is the will of God (1 Thess. 5:17-18). We should get advice from godly counselors about the will of God. Learning from wise people is the will of God (Prov. 19:20, 20:18). We should wait for God (Ps. 27:14), grow in wisdom (Prov. 3:6-7), ponder the Word of God (Psalm 1), and worship God (Eph. 5:18- 19). These disciplines are the will of God. In other words, seeking God for the purpose of discovering the will of God is really a secondary concern. Seeking God is itself our fundamental purpose in life. Seeking God to know His will for the future is part of a larger whole.

PURSUE YOUR CALLING.

We should also pursue a unique sense of calling. Each person's calling (or "vocation," as it is sometimes referred to) involves more than a specific job or career, which is often what we associate with the idea of a calling.

When we ask young Sarah, "What do you want to do when you grow up?" we expect her to say something like, "I want to be a doctor." Yet when Sarah reaches adulthood she will learn, as all of us learn, that a calling is really a set of multiple responsibilities based on circumstances, talents, vision, and intuition.

I am, for example, a widower and father. Circumstances require me to manage my home alone and to function as the only living parent of three children. I am also an active member of a church, a volunteer in the community, and a college professor. And I feel a deep burden to help prepare a younger generation of Christians for leadership in the world.

Doing the will of God requires that I make choices that are congruent with these various responsibilities, all of which reflect the will of God for me. I cannot in good conscience do something that would, for example, sacrifice the well-being of my children or compromise my desire to train leaders.

OBEY GOD'S MORAL COMMANDS.

Scripture establishes moral boundaries within which we come to know the will of God. Some actions are clearly out of line. I do not have to pray for God's will if I am considering marriage to an unbeliever (2 Cor. 6:14). Some motives are unacceptable, too. It is not God's will for me to become, say, a lawyer if I am motivated by avarice and pride, although being a lawyer is itself a worthy occupation. In this case God cares more about who I am than about what I do. Some positions of responsibility are off-limits, too, if in pursuing them we neglect to do the will of God we already know. I have chosen, for example, not to serve as a senior pastor in the near future because I believe it would deprive me of the time I need to raise my children.

BE OPEN TO GOD'S INTERRUPTIONS.

Finally, we should always remain open to and even pray for God's interruptions. It appears that God does at times speak clearly and directly to us about the future, showing us in no uncertain terms what we should do. On some occasions that sense of unequivocal guidance comes to us through circumstances: Many doors close, one door opens. On other occasions such guidance comes to us intuitively: We simply know what we are supposed to do. On still other occasions, God speaks to us through the prophetic voice of a fellow believer, or through a dream or vision. When God speaks so directly, we must be open to what He says and ready to do what He commands.

But God does not always interrupt. If anything, God may at times seem very quiet and distant. Does that mean He is unconcerned or disconnected? Does that imply we could actually make a bad decision, a decision contrary to the will of God, yet not even know we were making it? In such situations I think it is wise to assume that God is always clear when He needs to be, even when He is silent. Perhaps His apparent silence is the result of misguided expectations on our part.

Let's say, for example, that we want to know if option A or option B is the will of God for our lives. We pray, fast, seek counsel, study Scripture, wait on God. But still no answer comes. Could it be that both options are within the will of God, that God will bless us no matter which one we choose?

I have gone on many backpacking trips over the years. During some of those trips I have come to an intersection where the trail I was following forked, and I could find no marker indicating which path I was supposed to take. I have learned that the National Forest Service posts signs only when it is necessary. If there are no signs, as is often the case, it is because no signs are needed. Both paths will eventually lead to the same destination. I am free to choose either one with confidence that I will arrive at my chosen destination.

Some decisions we make, in other words, are not as important as we think. Or perhaps it is better to say that some decisions, however important they seem to us, are neutral if we make other, more fundamental decisions first. Option A and option B may both be acceptable, both within the will of God for the future, if we have already decided to do the will of God we know in the present.

PAUL'S DECISION MAKING

The life of the Apostle Paul illustrates this point. After Paul became a Christian he gave himself to seeking God, even to the point of withdrawing into the wilderness for a time. His greatest passion in life was to know Jesus (Phil. 1:21). Moreover, Paul was faithful to his calling as an apostle to the Gentiles. Obviously Paul honored God's moral law, even to the point of suffering (1 Cor. 4:8-13). Finally, Paul was open to God's interruptions. He set off on his first missionary journey at the prompting of the Holy Spirit (Acts 13). He traveled to Macedonia when God called him through a dream to begin evangelistic work there (Acts 16:6-10). Still, Paul seemed to make many decisions without such direct guidance. He used common sense, made decisions when necessity required them, and never doubted that they were the right ones, regardless of the outcome. He exercised freedom in the choices he made, and he lived in the security that God was with him. Paul could have chosen to travel to Alexandria first to begin his missionary work rather than to Crete. Such a decision would have set him on a different course. But the outcome would have been the same, the evangelization of the Mediterranean world.

FREE TO DO GOD'S WILL

God's will is revealed to us in Scripture; it is what God calls us to do day by day. But by His providence it is also being worked out mysteriously so that even human beings at their worst and human history at its lowest will still lead inexorably to a grand conclusion, thus fulfilling the eternal plan of God. We will comprehend the whole of God's plan only at the end, when we see all things clearly from heaven's perspective. But even in this life we may catch glimpses of it as we look back on the course of our lives and see how God's hand has been at work.

In the meantime, there is work to be accomplished, life to be lived, the will of God to be done. We are freed from bondage to the past and freed from worry about the future. We are free to do the will of God in the present, the only moment we truly have to know God, trust God, and obey God.

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GERALD L. SITTSER is an associate professor of religion at Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington. Gerald's most recent book is A Cautious Patriotism (University of North Carolina Press).

1997 Discipleship Journal Online, The Navigators, All rights reserved.

Utah was Brigham Young’s community. He was absolute master of its every detail. He knew every Mormon in Salt Lake City, his name and family, his assets and problems. When he visited St. George, the Mormon settlement near the southern Nevada border, he entered every home, embraced every Saint. When he ordered a thing to be done, it was done: Tabernacle, temple towns, schools, roads, library…

Plays appearing in the theater had to have his approval. Marriages required his consent, and courtships as well. If a man wanted to enter a business or trade, Brigham Young had to approve. … When he told a man to enter into plural marriage, that man took another wife. Whatever he said was the religion of the Mormons; when he said that a man or group was apostate that man or group was excommunicated. Heber Kimball, Young’s first in command, told the congregation: “If Brother Brigham tells me to do a thing, it is the same as though the Lord told me to do it.”

If it seemed that the Mormon was not overburdened with personal decisions, Sir Richard Burton, who visited them as a friend in Salt Lake in 1860, said that Brigham Young’s policy was based upon: “The fact that liberty is to mankind in mass, a burden far heavier than slavery.”

I read about a photographer for a national magazine who was assigned to "shoot" one of those big Western forest fires. He was told that a small plane would be waiting to fly him over the fire.

When he got to the airport, sure enough, he found a little Cessna waiting. He jumped in with his equipment and yelled, "Let's go!" The pilot, the plane, and the photographer were soon in the air.

"Fly over the north side of the fire and make several low passes," the photographer shouted.

"Why?" the nervous pilot asked.

"Because I'm going to take pictures! I'm a photographer, and photographers take pictures," was the reply.

After a long pause, the pilot tensely asked, "You mean, you're not the instructor?"

The pilot and the photographer both trusted someone to do something they could not do. Luckily, in this case, thanks to communication by the air traffic control, they were able to get back to the airport.

In life, trust is often put in places, people, and things that are not worthy of such trust. People have entrusted friends, advise columnists, talk shows, spouses, organizations, and a host of other people and things - even their own feelings - to direct them. Unfortunately, many people do not learn until it is too late that their trust has been misguided and misplaced. Many decisions lead not to safety but to destruction!

Jesus warned, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" (Matt 7:15) and "if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch" (Matt 15:14).

Our authority should be in God and His Word and not in preachers, friends, relatives and others. People can knowingly or unknowingly deceive others. God's word is the only safe guide.

#4109

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An old Calvin and Hobbes cartoon shows Calvin and his imaginary friend Hobbes, a stuffed tiger, coasting downhill in a toy wagon. Hobbes is pushing while Calvin shouts, “Faster! Faster!” Hobbes says, “The turbo is pooped,” and jumps into the wagon behind Calvin. Calvin says, “That’s okay, gravity just kicked in.” And you can see the wagon racing down a hill on a sidewalk.

The incline gets steeper as Calvin asks, “Ever notice how decisions make chain reactions?” And the tiger asks, “How so?”

“Well, each decision we make determines the range of choices we’ll face next.” In this panel there is more dust and we are looking at the two in the wagon past some rocks and trees. They are no longer on a sidewalk.

Calvin continues, “Take this fork in the road for instance. Which way should we go? Arbitrarily, I choose left.” He looks back at Hobbes with his hair standing up straight and shouts while pointing ahead: “Now, as a direct result of that decision, we’re faced with another choice: Should we jump this ledge or ride along the side of it? If we hadn’t turned left at the fork, this new choice would never have come up.”

In the next panel we’re looking up at the bottom of the wagon, and Hobbes is looking over the side and saying, “I note, with some dismay, you’ve chosen to jump the ledge.” Calvin says, “Right. And THAT decision will give us NEW choices.”

Now Calvin is in the air over the front of the wagon, which is tipping down, and Hobbes is hanging on to the back of the wagon with his legs in the air as he says, “Like, should we bail out or die in the landing?” With his arms out as if flying, Calvin says, “Exactly. Our first decision created a chain reaction of decisions. Let’s jump.”

Now lying in a puddle with just his head and feet out of the water, Calvin says: “See? If you don’t make each decision carefully, you never know WHERE you’ll end up. That’s an important lesson we should learn sometime.” And Hobbes, shaking water off his head, says, “I wish we could talk about these things without the visual aids.”

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C. William Mosley

Advice on decision-making from a motivational writer:

A recent survey of Fortune 500 companies revealed that one of the most important qualities they look for among those they mark for leadership roles is the ability to make decisions. How are you doing? Do you ever feel like the centipede who was told to put its best foot forward? When you're having trouble making a decision, try these six preliminary questions.

1. What is my real objective? Why must I decide?

2. What is my deadline? When must I decide?

3. Can I break the decision down into smaller parts?

4. Will this decision be final? Or can I change my mind later?

5. What risks are involved? Are they worth it?

6. What new information do I need before I decide?

Deciding to decide is often the hardest part. These six questions will help clarify your thoughts and actions so you can make the decision and take advantage of all the opportunities that come your way.

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[Original illustration at this number was a duplicate of HolwickID #4611]

A boy told his father, "Dad, if three frogs were sitting on a limb which hung over a pool, and one frog decided to jump off into the pool. How many frogs would be left on the limb?

The dad replied, Two. "No, the son replied. There's three frogs and one decides to jump, how many are left?"

The dad said, "Oh, I get it, if one decides to jump, the others would too. So there are none left.

The boy said, No dad, the answer is three. The frog only DECIDED to jump.

________

TS--Sound like last year's New Year's Resolution? Great inspiration and great resolutions but often times we only decide, and months later we are still on the same limb of do nothing.

"You'll never have all the information you need to make a decision. If you did, it would be a foregone conclusion, not a decision."

-- David Mahoney, philosopher, cited in BITS & PIECES (B&P)

Dwight D. Eisenhower once warned John F. Kennedy that "as President, the only decisions you'll be asked to make are the hard ones. That's because the people working under you will keep all the easy ones for themselves!"

"Between two evils, choose neither; between two goods, choose both."

-- Tryon Edwards

"When yu' can't have what you choose, yu' just choose what you have."

-- Owen Wister

"A man is too apt to forget that in this world he cannot have everything. A choice is all that is left him."

-- H. Mathews

"He who chooses the beginning of a road chooses the place it leads to. It is the means that determine the end."

-- Harry Emerson Fosdick

"Life often presents us with a choice of evils rather than of goods."

-- Charles Caleb Colton

"in literature, as in love, we are astonished at the choice made by other people."

-- André Maurois

"When you have to make a choice and don't make it, that in itself is a choice."

-- William James

"Women now have choices. They can be married, not married, have a job, not have a job, be married with children, unmarried with children. Men have the same choice we've always had: work, or prison.

-- Tim Allen (http://www.bigwacko.com/)

"When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I've never tried before."

-- Mae West (http://www.bigwacko.com/)

"It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

-- J. K. Rowling, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets", B&P 5/20/03

"In a moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing to do. The worst thing you can do is nothing."

-- Theodore Roosevelt (1858 - 1919), 26th U.S. President, Bits & Pieces

"The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it."

-- General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Quotes From the Masters, 2/25/02

“When your values are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier.”

-- Roy Disney, Walt Disney's brother and business partner, Dynamic Preaching

"When I've heard all I need to make a decision, I don't take a vote. I make a decision."

-- Ronald Reagan, QFTM 6/5/04

Paul Harvey is probably one of the most distinctive voices in American radio. His lively newscasts and his unique delivery have given him a special niche in the lives of millions of listeners. But he does more than news. He is also known for the true stories that he tells, often from American history. But he doesn't let you know who the surprising subject of the story is until the end. There's a trademark phrase that accompanies Paul Harvey's great stories. He concludes this way: “And that's...” - you can probably say the rest with me - “...the rest of the story.”

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about “How To Get The Rest Of The Story.”

You don't really have the whole picture until Paul Harvey gives you the rest the story. There are so many times in our lives when we have decisions to make and we wish we had the rest of the story - the whole picture. Every day we have to make choices based on what we can see - knowing that there's so much we don't know and we can't see.

But there's someone who does know the rest of the story, and who's willing and able to guide you in your decisions. He promised it in James 1:5, our word for today from the Word of God. God says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, (Man, that is me many times a day!) he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given him.” What an awesome promise from God - that if I go to Him in faith, asking for His wisdom regarding this person or this situation, I can download God's perspective - and He knows the whole story!

Solomon really models for us the way to be much smarter than we are. In 1 Kings 3, he has just become the king of Israel, following in the gigantic footsteps of his father, King David. His subjects have no idea how scared he feels - how inadequate he feels ... much like we often do as parents, as leaders, as people helpers, as teachers.

So Solomon goes to God, who has all the answers, all the resources he doesn't have. Solomon says: “Now, O Lord my God, You have made your servant king ... But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people You have chosen ... So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.” (1 Kings 3:7-9) The Bible goes on to say that God made Solomon the wisest man of his time, a leader who was sought out by other leaders who traveled many, many miles to see him.

Here's what Solomon shows us as the steps to getting God's wisdom. First, humbly admit your ignorance and your powerlessness - even if you're number one where you are. Secondly, acknowledge, as Solomon did, that everything and everyone in this situation is God's - I'm “Your servant” ... these are “Your people.” Thirdly, desperately seek His wisdom. When you do, God will give you breakthrough insight into that situation, into that person. He will add to what you know all He knows and guide your heart to wise “no regrets” conclusions.

But you have to, as James says, “ask God.” We're often so entangled in trying to figure things out, we're so overwhelmed by trying to decide, that we neglect to go to God humbly for His wisdom. He's promised He'll give it - if we ask in faith believing.

What a gift from God - His wisdom, the God-given ability to look at a person or a situation through His all-knowing eyes. Is it any wonder that Solomon said, “Though it cost you all you have, get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7)

________________

Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. "Practical Answers to Real Life Issues"

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I will make an everlasting covenant with you, My faithful love promised to David. — Isaiah 55:3

In David Wilcox’s “Eye of the Hurricane,” he sings about a young woman who has given up on finding what she really wants in life.

“Hope is gone,” she confessed;

“When you lay your dream to rest,

You can get what’s second best;

But it’s hard to get enough.”

That’s the trouble with everything in life that’s second best — it tastes good at first but quickly becomes bitter; it’s initially exciting but eventually boring; it’s never fulfilling and always addictive; it’s a nightmare that begins when we surrender our best dreams, and it has haunted the human heart since the dawn of time.

The prophet Isaiah recorded this invitation from God: “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare” (Isaiah 55:2-3).

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35).

Jesus Christ offers life that satisfies. Turning away from sin and giving ourselves to Christ is choosing God’s best. We can do it today, no matter how badly we’ve damaged our yesterdays.

“Second best” is not some kind of lifelong curse that accompanies a bad decision about sex, vocation, or a special call from God. Those are important choices with powerful consequences, but they should not condemn us to perpetual discouragement. Today, tomorrow, and every day to come, it’s possible to embrace God’s best and walk with Him along the pathway of joy.

“Now choose life … that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20).

Today can be a new beginning for you. And that’s the best! — DM

REFLECTION

• Which of my past choices leave me feeling that I’ve settled for second best?

• How could choosing to follow Jesus today begin to change my life?

SUGGESTION

As you read the Bible this month, why not begin by praying, Lord, show me Your best for my life, and help me obey Your commands.

In spirituality, second best is worst.

Saying Yes To Jesus

Read: Matthew 21:28-32

Which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost. — Luke 14:28

Bible In One Year: Ezekiel 3-4; Hebrews 11:20-40

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An agnostic professor tells his students that as an 8-year-old child he used to give a Christian testimony that moved people to tears of joy. Now, however, he has rejected his former belief in Jesus. His influence has led many young men and women to renounce the faith they once professed.

Why does this happen? Part of the answer is in Matthew 21. In Jesus’ parable, a father asked his two sons to go and work in his field. One said he would but didn’t. Jesus directed this to the religious leaders who gave the appearance of saying yes to God, but their hearts were far from Him.

Some who grow up in Christian homes may say yes to Jesus without truly understanding what they are doing. Later when their faith is challenged, they turn away from the faith to which they had given lip-service. In contrast, others may initially say no to Christ because they realize that to repent and believe means their lives will belong to the Lord, and they don’t like the demands of following Christ. But eventually they do repent and believe and obey.

Putting your faith in Jesus is life’s most important decision. Make sure, therefore, of your own allegiance to Him. Be careful also to instruct others so they understand that saving faith must be a life-changing reality in their hearts. — HVL

When we say yes to Jesus as Lord,

We pledge to take Him at His Word;

If we’re sincere He’ll give us the grace

To follow till we see His face. — DJD

Faith in Christ is not just a one-time choice but a lifetime challenge.

When duly examined, the pretexts of indecision are absurd; unless we submit to the great appeal, nothing is left but speechlessness. What are the undecided ones waiting for? Some are stopped by a variety of presuppositions. Much mystery and many questions must be cleared up. There are difficulties with regard to the Bible: the great question of Noah's ark, of Baalam's ass, of the Gadarene swine. How shall we reconcile sin, suffering and death with the goodness of God? Are not the birth and death of Christ wrapped in mystery? Now, it is true that revelation presents great problems; but does this justify our hesitation? Spots appear on the sun, yet it gives more light than any other luminary, therefore we rejoice to walk in its light; and although dark places occur in revelation, it is still "the master-light of all our seeing," and our common sense bids us follow its guidance. We have to judge between Christ and other masters, and there need not be one moment's hesitation between the glorious liberty, the godly comfort, the high character, the sweet service, the benign influence, and the splendid hope of the Christian life and the life of sin.

Many wait for a more powerful impulse. They wait for something practically supernatural that will agitate, stimulate or master them; but in reality the appeal of conscience is not less the voice of God than the vision that smote Saul (see Acts 9).

Others wait for a convenient season. "Convenient" is a word that has no place in serious life. When seriously ill, we do not defer going to the doctor until it is convenient. How much rather, then, shall we promptly deal with the crisis of the soul!

A revival swept through the university at Princeton, New Jersey. Aaron Burr came to the president of the university and said: "Mr. president, I have made up my mind to consider the claims of Christ. Now, Mr. President, what would you do?" And the old president of the university gave him this advice: He said, "Burr, if I were you, I would wait until the excitement of the revival had subsided, and then I would think it out carefully." Aaron Burr bowed his head a moment, and then he said, "Mr. President, that is exactly what I will do." And, it is stated as a fact, that never again in his life did he express a desire to be a Christian, and they say he died without such an expression.

Charles Spurgeon relates:

"I can scarcely recall the details of a little incident in Russian history which might illustrate the emergency; but the fact, as far as my memory serves, was this. The Czar had died suddenly, and in the dead of night one of the counselors of the empire came to the Princess Elizabeth and said to her, 'You must come at once and take possession of the crown.' She hesitated, for there were difficulties in the way, and she did not desire the position. But he said, 'Now, sit down, Princess, for a minute.' Then he drew her two pictures. One was the picture of herself and the Count thrown into prison, racked with tortures, and presently both brought out to die beneath the axe. 'That,' he said, 'you can have if you like.' The other picture was of herself with the imperial crown of all of Russia on her brow, and all the princes bowing before her, and all the nation doing her homage. 'That,' said he, 'is the other side of the question. But, tonight, your Majesty must choose which it shall be.' With the two pictures vividly depicted before her mind's eye she did not hesitate long, but cast in her choice for the crown. Now, I would wish to paint to you such pictures, only I lack the skill. You will either sink forever down in deeper and yet deeper woe, filled with remorse because you brought it all upon yourself, or else, if you decide for Christ, and trust in him, you shall enter into the bliss of those who forever and forever, without admixture of grief, enjoy felicity before the throne of God. To my mind, there ought to be no halting as to the choice. It should be made. I pray God's Holy Spirit to help you to make it today. On this winged hour eternity is hung. The choice of this day may be the cooling of the wax which now is soft. Once cooled, it will bear the imprint throughout eternity. God grant it may be a resolve for Christ, for His cause, for His cross, for His crown.

Spurgeon tells a tale of a young man who made an open profession of the gospel. His father, greatly offended, gave him this advice: "James, you should first get yourself established in a good trade, and then think of the matter of religion." "Father," said the son, "Jesus Christ advises me differently; He says, 'Seek ye first the kingdom of God' " (Matthew 6:33).

How To Reach Bad Conclusions

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IGNORING THE ADVICE OF EXPERTS WITHOUT GOOD REASON:

Example: Sure, the experts say you shouldn't ride a bicycle in the eye of a hurricane, but I have my own theory.

FOLLOWING THE ADVICE OF KNOWN ODDBALL:

Example: Uncle Horace says eating pork makes you smarter. That's good enough for me.

REACHING BIZARRE CONCLUSIONS WITHOUT ANY INFORMATION:

Example: My car won't start. I'm certain the spark plugs have been stolen by rogue clowns.

FAULTY PATTERN RECOGNITION:

Example: His last six wives were murdered mysteriously. I hope to be wife number seven.

FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE WHAT'S IMPORTANT:

Example: My house is on fire! Quick, call the post office and tell them to hold my mail!

CONCLUDING THAT THE SIMPLEST EXPLANATION MUST BE CORRECT:

Example: The simplest explanation for the moon landings is that they were hoaxes.

INABILITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT SOME THINGS HAVE MULTIPLE CAUSES:

Example: The Beatles were popular for one reason only: they were good singers.

PROOF BY LACK OF EVIDENCE:

Example: I've never seen you drunk, so you must be one of those Amish people.

BLINDING FLASHES OF THE OBVIOUS:

Example: If everyone had more money, we could eliminate poverty.

BLAMING THE TOOL:

Example: I bought an encyclopedia, but I'm still not intelligent.

TAKING THINGS TO THEIR ILLOGICAL CONCLUSION:

Example: If you let your barber cut your hair, the next thing you know he'll be lopping your limbs off.

JUDGING THE WHOLE BY ONE OF ITS CHARACTERISTICS:

Example: The sun causes sunburns. Therefore, the planet would be better off without the sun.

*

Some time ago a New York millionaire sat by his window, knowing that the hour of his death was drawing near, and, seeing a street-sweeper at work below, said; "I would give every penny of my fortune if I could change places with that man-if I could have my health back again. I have worked hard during my life and have saved every dollar that I could. And now it is hard to think that I have got to die and leave it all behind." Evidently this man was in the same condition as that rich farmer whom Jesus tells us about, who meant to store up his goods to feed his soul on, and whom God declared to be a fool (see Luke 12:16-21). If this man had made wise and loving use of his money to bless the world during his lifetime, he would not have had this lament at his death, "How hard it is to think I have to die and leave it all behind."

LIVE EACH DAY TO THE FULLEST

Live each day to the fullest.

Get the most from each hour, each day, and each age of your life.

Then you can look forward with confidence, and back without regrets.

Be yourself - but be your best self.

Dare to be different and to follow your own star.

And don’t be afraid to be happy.

Enjoy what is beautiful.

Love with all your heart and soul.

Believe that those you love, love you.

Forget what you have done for your friends, and remember what they have done for you.

Disregard what the world owes you, and concentrate on what you owe the world.

When you are faced with a decision, make that decision as wisely as possible – then forget it.

The moment of absolute certainty never arrives.

And above all, remember that God helps those who help themselves.

Act as if everything depended upon you, and pray as if everything depended upon God.

________

S.H. Payer

Let’s see a show of hands. How many of us grew up hearing testimonies and sermons at Vacation Bible School, church camps and revivals, implying that God’s will is an ironclad, one-option-only maze? One wrong turn, and you’re toast. Such teaching left the impression that if we are spiritual enough, we will always know with scientific certainty how and where our Creator is leading.

A careful reading of Scripture reveals that discerning God’s will is much messier, less formulaic and much, much less certain than we may have thought. In Acts 1, we read of the infant church facing one of its first post-resurrection decisions. Who would replace Judas Iscariot as an apostle? Most Baptists would recognize the early steps the church took: Simon Peter preached on the importance of their decision (vv. 15-20). Then the qualifications for the position were enumerated (vv. 21-22). Next, it appears the small congregation was allowed to nominate persons (v. 23). Finally, they prayed, acknowledging God’s sovereign purposes and humbly asking for divine direction (vv. 24-25).

So far, this discernment process sounds much like a 21st-century church. But then the story gets strange. The next step in the “call” process? “They…drew straws” (v. 26, The Message). Really? That’s what my mom used to do when my three siblings and I argued over who would have to be first to take a Saturday night bath! OK, so the NRSV says “they cast lots,” instead of “they drew straws,” but explain to me how that is different.

Some commentators claim that the casting of lots was the way the early church practiced democracy, that each of the two candidates had a basket and people dropped a pebble in one or the other to “vote.” But that’s a stretch. The Greek words used in verse 26 are identical to the ones found in the gospels, describing the Roman soldiers casting lots to divide up Jesus’ clothing (Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24). I seriously doubt that those guards were casting democratic votes. No, as we listen to the biblical text honestly, we are faced with the reality that the first Christian congregation probably put two pebbles in a basket and whichever name came tumbling out determined the future makeup of the apostolic band.

And here is the real kicker: We never hear another word about Matthias, the one chosen. We don’t know if he was a great success or a dud. Yet even that is instructive. Instead of being embarrassed by the humanity of our sacred story, why can’t we just embrace it? Discerning God’s will is a mixture of faith, prayer, careful listening and eventually, “rolling the dice.” If the first followers of Jesus had waited on certainty, they might still be waiting!

When all is said and done, perhaps discerning God’s will is neither as glamorous nor as esoteric as we thought. Perhaps, like the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is a mysterious mixture of the human and divine. In our journey to know God’s will, after we have prayed, sought appropriate counsel, considered circumstances, studied scripture and used the brains given to us by God, we eventually have to “put our money down” and make a faith bet. That faith bet is in the form of a humble prayer, uttered from our hearts, “God, I have sought your will and still long to do it, but I am not sure what I am supposed to do. To the best of my knowledge, I make this choice. If it is not your will, please show me my error and forgive me.” I am a child of grace. I am free to fail. God will love me anyway!

And besides, if you believe God has only one plan, think again. Scripture reveals that the One who oversees the cosmos is sovereign and perfectly capable of adjusting to our imperfect and sporadic obedience. After all, when my siblings and I drew straws, what really mattered to my mother was that all four of her children went to bed clean. Perhaps our loving Heavenly Parent doesn’t sweat the small stuff as much as we do.