GOD’S WAY
Third of seven devotions in World Stage Series
Psalm 119:105: “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and light for
my path.”
“I
think this decision will determine the rest of my life,” Michael said to his
ten year old brother Jeremy. “I’m at a
crossroads. I want to play basketball,
but I also want to join the Air Force.” Michael’s
brow furrowed by indecision. His eleventh
grade school course form lay on the desk, waiting to be returned before summer
recess begins in June.
God
gave people free will so that we could make our own decisions. He needed to know which of His kids would
choose to love and obey Him. He loves it when His kids choose to follow His
way rather than the world’s way.
Not
every decision has eternal significance.
We’re
often faced with less important concerns: Choosing which juice accompanies
breakfast or which sweater to wear takes just a microsecond to resolve. And life doesn’t take a wrong turn
afterwards. But other choices are
difficult to evaluate—like what Michael is facing now.
Jeremiah
9:23-24a teaches, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Let not the wise man boast of
his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his
riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows
Me…’ declares the Lord.”
Knowing
the Lord has eternal significance.
People
need to figure out how to make the best decision when life pauses at a
crossroads. The best decision is always
God’s way. Until people learn how to discern
God’s will, it’s not good enough to just go with one’s gut feeling. Instinct is natural—the way of the
flesh. God’s way is Spirit-led. People can only recognize things of the
Spirit by freely surrendering one’s will to God’s Spirit.
Believer’s
indwelling Holy Spirit explains Scripture to us when we seek understanding. And James 1:5 promises, “If any of you lacks
wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault,
and it will be given to him.”
Adam
and Eve disobeyed God’s command first in Genesis 3:6, and sin was woven into
the human fabric from then on. Every
individual person must use his free will to decide whether to live God’s way or
the way of the world.
And
this decision does have eternal significance (See lesson linked below for guidance
towards living God’s way).
Take Home Nugget
Let’s
consider following God’s wisdom, God’s truth and God’s direction with every
choice we make. Then believer’s lives
will be recognized as God’s way on the world stage.
Free will is so impressive because God allows
people to choose our own eternal destiny.
J.D. Griffith
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