CHOICES AND DECISIONS

I Was Just Thinking About – CHOICES AND DECISIONS.

Several years ago at a Minister’s Conference, Dr. Howard Hendricks led a seminar where he posed the question: “What Does It Take To Make You Want To Quit?” It allowed that a person had viable choices to consider and decisions to make. There is a vast amount of statistics regarding: (1) Why a Pastor leaves a particular church or parish; (2) Why a Pastor abandons any further ministry; (3) Why does a person or people decide to leave a particular Church and have nothing further to do with organized religion? (4) Why a Church decided to close its doors and end its community ministry? These and many other questions have been raised and some analysis offered in an attempt to answer the question, “why?”!

Factors that should be a major focus includes: Whose Church is it? And, Why did a person enter into a ministerial role? The Church is known as being the bride of Christ. Jesus has said: “I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). The Church that Jesus Christ had/has in mind is summarized in Acts 1:8 (NLT), “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere…” The primary objective for Christ’s Church is for it to be a witnessing body of believers who live and proclaim His Gospel. Question: Does this describe who you are and what the church you attend does? In Romans 15:20-21, Paul shared what the ambition of believers and the Church should be involved in doing, “My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else. I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says: Those who have never been told about him will see, and those who have never heard of him will understand.” There is also the role of edification, building each other up, that should be part of the functioning commitment. In I Corinthians 14:26, Paul indicated: “Everything that is done must strengthen all of you.” Is this the focus and reality of the Church where you attend?

The role of the servant of the Lord is clear. The servant must follow and serve without complaint and reluctance. Obviously, some who get into ministry do so for the wrong reasons. The true servant is one where the choice that has been made and the decision reached is a God choice and decision. Has the person been called by Jesus Christ? When speaking about the betrayal by Judas Iscariot, Jesus shares a particular insight with those who are taking part in the Passover Meal,  in John 13:18, “I am not speaking about all of you; I know whom I have chosen.” Later, he will add, John 15:16, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain…” The choice and decision of Jesus Christ that those whom He has chosen and appointed are to be productive, bearing eternal fruit.

Could it be that some ministries have become more ritualistic, liturgical and theoretical? Could it be that the purpose of Jesus Christ for His Church and His servants has been aborted? Could it be that rather than edifying one another, there has been enablement for compromises and ignoring of the lethargy that is taking place in people’s lives? Could it be that the church is more focused on being politically correct and in cultural harmony than it is in giving the clear, uncompromised and precise Word from the Lord?

What is a summation of The Word and what it will be doing in people’s lives and in the organized church? A starting place is Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Does this represent who you are and what your church is doing? Make certain you embrace the choice and decision of Jesus Christ for you and the church you attend.

To serve this present age, my calling to fulfill;

O, may it all my powers engage, to do His holy will.

Prayerfully – consider these things with me?

REFLECTIONS

I Was Just Thinking About – REFLECTIONS.

I have two friends who have had times of difficulty while having to deal with moments of depression. One is due to stress factors and the other is due to medications used in cancer treatment. It can be a very lonely journey and ancillary factors can enter in at one’s most vulnerable time. I know of one who at his lowest moments (Stage 4 Cancer Diagnoses), when death seemed to be a realistic and imminent possibility, received correspondence, notes and phone calls that contained vitriol rather than words of encouragement.

What should one do when those whom he has trusted seem to be so inconsiderate and insensitive? On a personal basis, I have found several truths that are helpful and encouraging. One of the truisms comes from Pilgrim’s Progress (John Bunyan) and the reality of the slough of despond for Christian and Pliable. 

“Now I saw in my dream that… they drew near to a very miry slough that was in the midst of the plain; and they being heedless, did both fall suddenly into the bog. The name of the slough was Despond. Here, therefore, they wallowed for a time, being grievously bedaubed with the dirt; and Christian, because of the burden that was on his back, began to sink in the mire. Then said Pliable, Ah! neighbor Christian, where are you now? Truly, said Christian, I do not know. At that Pliable began to be offended, and angrily said to his fellow, Is this the happiness you have told me of all this while? Christian was left to tumble in the Slough of Despond alone; but still he endeavored to struggle to that side of the slough that was...next to the wicket gate: which he did, but could not get out, because of the burden that was upon his back. But I beheld, in my dream, that a man came to him whose name was Help, and asked him what he did there? Sir, said Christian, I was bidden to go this way by a man called Evangelist, who directed me also to yonder gate, that I might escape the wrath to come; and as I was going thither, I fell in here. Help asked: But why did you not look for the steps? Christian responded: Fear followed me so hard, that I fled the next way and fell in. Then said help: Give me thy hand. So he gave him his hand, and he drew him out; and set him upon some ground, and bade him go on his way.” 
The Point: Help helped and did not ignore the plight and need of Christian.

Other words that are helpful and encouraging are Scriptural: Psalm 37:24 (NLT), “Put your hope in the Lord. Travel steadily along his path.” Matthew 10:29-31 (NLT), “Not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it…Don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” Isaiah 40:31 (NIV), “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Psalm 37:7 (MSG), “Quiet down (be calm and restful, relax, wait patiently) before God, be prayerful before him.” Psalm 105:3-4 and First Chronicles 16:10-11 (NKJV), “Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord. Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!”

Overall, what is the Lord’s word for my friends who are struggling with despondency and moments of depression? What are the Lord's words for me? The answer is Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV), “Fear not! I AM with you! Be not dismayed, for I AM your God. I WILL strengthen you! Yes, I WILL help you!” If there is anything that I have been reminded of these past few months, it is that God is present with me, will never forsake or leave me alone, and will help me through the times when doubts, fears, concern for the future try to blur the reality of the Lord’s presence – even for those who have moments when they feel they are walking in the valley of the shadow of death.

A contemporary worship chorus comes to my mind and encourages me when I trend toward anxious moments and indecision about God's will for my future:

What a mighty God we serve!
Angels bow before Him; 

Heaven and earth adore Him;
What a mighty God we serve!

He holds the winds in His hand; 

And He is the great I am;
He is the bright and morning star; 

And without Him I would fall.
What a mighty God we serve!

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.

DECISIONS

I Was Just Thinking About – DECISIONS.

In my devotional reading this morning and my reflecting on a sermon I will preach this coming Lord’s Day, I believe the Lord used His Word to remind of a truth I never want to forget. I’m reading in the Berean Study Bible (BSB) Psalm 86:11-13, “Teach me Your way, O Lord, and I will walk in Your truth. Grant me UNDIVIDEDNESS OF HEART so that I may fear Your name. I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify Your name forever. For great is Your loving devotion to me…”

For many years, one of my Biblical heroes has been Caleb. My prayer and hope has been that I might be remembered as he was because it is noted that he followed the Lord WHOLEHEARTEDLY. I am attracted to the words he expressed in Joshua 14:6-12. Caleb references that he and Joshua were the only spies who had followed the Lord wholeheartedly. He recalls and rehearses the promise of Moses about inheritances in the promised land when he was 40 years of age. Forty-five years have passed and Caleb has assisted the other tribes to get settled. He is now ready to inherit his mountain. His appeal to Joshua is given in verse 9: “Moses swore to me on that day – the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever…(at age 85, he said): I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then…So now, give me my mountain (hill country) of which the Lord spoke on that day.”

The words of David and Caleb that ring and resonate in my heart, soul and mind are: “undividedness of heart” and “wholeheartedness” in serving and following the Lord. In 1857, Horatius wrote:

Thy way, not mine, O Lord, However dark it be!
Lead me by Thine own hand, 

Choose out the path for me.

Smooth let it be or rough, It will be still the best;
Winding or straight, it leads Right onward to Thy rest.

Not mine, not mine the choice 

In things or great or small;
Be Thou my guide, my strength 

My wisdom, and my all.

For some, making or reaching a decision seems to be easy. How they reach a decision is another matter. Some are ego-driven and have a spirit of being superior to others. Others are hesitant, rightly or wrongly, as they feel a sense of inadequacy, inferiority or unworthiness. The Biblical words of caution should always be primary for everyone. Proverbs 16:2 (BSB) is a good cautionary reminder: “All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed by the Lord.” Just think – one’s MOTIVES being weighed by the Lord. Proverbs 14:15 (NASB) reminds one: “The naive believes everything, But the sensible man considers his steps.” The wise and sensible person considers carefully what steps should be taken and what decision should be made. Will it be easy and simple? No! The words that are helpful are expressed in Isaiah 30:21 (BSB), “And whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: THIS IS THE WAY. WALK IN IT.” That’s where I want to be. That’s where you should want to be. That’s where the Biblical Church needs to be.

I want the words of Abraham’s servant as he travelled to find a bride for Isaac to be true for me. How would he know where to go? How would he be enabled to make the right and wise decision in behalf of his Master? The words in Genesis 24:27 (KJV) state the answer: “I being in the way, the Lord led me.” In 1875, Fanny Crosby wrote:

All the way my Savior leads me; 

O the fullness of His love!
This my song through endless ages—

Jesus led me all the way.

Prayerfully – consider these things with me!