Whatz it Gonna’ Be?
It’s hard to know sometimes just what to do next.
Me… I’m trying desperately to stay busy for the Lord. Not too busy, just busy enough.
Oh, you say, that’s easy - Just say ‘No’.
Do you remember when “Just say no” was a way to communicate to your children the importance of staying away from drugs and alcohol and all things that could influence their lives in a negative way? “Just say no” was the easy instruction. Yet many an adult have strung themselves out so thin because of busy-ness in their lives - they don’t know how to say ‘no’.
Countless times I have been told that there was no time to serve at church or in the community or spend time in prayer and study because of busy agendas. I think to myself…”what if God was too busy for me?” Hmmmm – that is a scary thought.
It is okay to say no [it is also okay to say yes!] but sometimes it can become a bad habit. For instance –
“Honey, is the 15th alright to schedule my emergency heart surgery?”
“No.”
“The 16th then…”
“No.”
“How about the 20th?”
“…um...No.”
“When then?”
“Uh – I’ll get back to you”
“Soon?”
“No.”
Of course that illustration is tongue-in-cheek and extreme but you get my point. Saying no can be as bad as agreeing to all things.
Are you in a habit of saying ‘sure’ and ‘yes I can’ before thinking things through? Are you in the opposite habit of saying ‘No…can’t do it’ before thinking things through? Here is a worse scenario…you say ‘sure’ or ‘nope’ and then don’t follow through any way….eeeeeyuck.
If you are tired of making decisions or unsure as to what direction to take you may be finding yourself asking “Whatz it gonna’ be?” Do I do this? …or do I do that? Should I…shouldn’t I? etc.
It is easy to say pray and rely on the Lord, but a seasoned Christian knows better. There are always choices and choices are usually privileges. There are also statements in God’s word that does not leave the outcome to choice. Once you have accepted Christ as your personal Lord and Savior (which is a choice) there are precepts set down in his word. For instance: Romans 12:10 says “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (NIV) Notice here that this is talking about believers and how we are expected to treat one another; notice too that it doesn’t add “if you want to…” So, if you are at odds with another believer, read the word and act instead of wondering what’s going to happen next.
Here is a case of duty: Mark 16:15 “Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (to all creation)” Again, if you are not sure what comes next check out the command in this text…GO - did you notice here that once more it doesn’t say “if you want to” or “if you have time…then GO” We can glean here that more often than not we are given choices but there are areas in God’s word that leaves no question that we should be obedient.
Another example is found in Isaiah. Sometimes we struggle with obedience. In this illustration it does involve choice, however, look at who the responsibility falls on – “This is what the Lord says…I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the ways you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.” (NIV -Isaiah 48:17, 18) God’s desire is for his children to follow his lead and not waver. The result of obedience is favor with God - for who doesn’t want great peace and righteousness? Yet, it is a choice.
Whatz it gonna’ be? Follow God and his ways… do our own thing? Step out in faith believing He will provide or put a cap on the abilities of The God of the universe?
This devotional is only a short message to get you moving in the right direction. Discernment and maturity are important factors in all decisions but don’t under estimate the concern and plan that God has for your life. He waits to hear from you in order to direct your path.
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