Joshua 24:15
And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose this
day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served.. or the
gods of the.. land where you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve
the Lord.
Let us discuss a topic of utmost importance. A topic that
affects our daily lives, our attitudes, our relationships, and ultimately, our
place in the eternal kingdom of God. We shall meditate on the consequences of
our choices, both positive and negative, and the implications they have for our
lives.
Proverbs 16:9 tells us, "In their hearts humans plan
their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." It is, therefore,
essential to understand the gravity of every decision we make, for even in our
own plans, it is the Lord's will that prevails.
Life is a beautiful tapestry woven with threads of choices.
Some threads shine with radiant colours, while others seem dull and sombre.
However, it is the combination of all these threads that creates the complete
picture of our lives. Positive choices generate positive outcomes, and negative
choices breed negative results.
God gave us the gift of free will. He allows us to make
choices, but He also guides us towards righteousness. When we choose to live by
His teachings, we walk in the light - a path that leads to love, peace, and
eternal life. We can either choose to act on the desires of the world and the flesh, or the will of God and the Holy Spirit.
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, describes
the fruits of the Spirit – "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).
These are not just characteristics; they are the positive outcomes of walking
in alignment with God's will. Following God's guidance will lead us to these
fruits, bringing joy and contentment into our lives and the lives of those
around us.
However, we are not perfect. There will be times when we
stray from God's path and allow temptation to lead us to make negative choices.
These choices lead us towards a shadowy path - a path filled with resentment,
sadness, and despair. We must know the wages of sin are death, but the gift of
God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).
Remember, the Lord does not abandon us in our mistakes. Just
as a loving father guides his child, God corrects us and nudges us back onto
the path of light. His mercy and grace are abundant, waiting for us to repent
and return to Him. As we read in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness."
The choices we make shape our lives. But let us rejoice in
this: every new moment brings a new opportunity to choose wisely, to choose
love, to choose life. With every dawn, God presents us with a fresh canvas. Let
it be our conscious decision to paint it with strokes of positivity, love, and
faith.
May we all strive to walk in the path that God has laid out
for us, always seeking His guidance in our choices. Remember, dear ones, the
choices we make today will shape the world tomorrow. Let us choose to contribute
to revealing the love and light of God to a lost world that desperately needs
it!