CHOICE
10th Jul 2024
We in the UK have just made a choice regarding our elected government, and we now have a new prime minister and the Labour party in power. Whatever our opinions, the choice has been made.
Our lives are full of choices and they all have their consequences. On Sunday at church we were told about some research which had been done regarding Thankfulness and Anxiety. When examining the brain it was discovered that it is impossible to be anxious when you are being “Thankful” and vice versa. That’s an amazing revelation and it all has to do with choice.
When Joshua was speaking to the Israelites in Joshua 24:14-15 he challenges them, “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness …… choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” then he adds this declaration, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” The direction of our lives depends on our choices.
Moses challenged the people as he handed over the leadership to Joshua, “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.” (Deuteronomy 30: 19-20)
We have a choice regarding the direction of our lives, we can choose to be those who forgive, bless, and will act with generosity, or we can allow anxiety, bitterness and self-centredness to dominate our lives.
When Jesus was speaking with His disciples just before He went to the cross, He said, “You did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last.” (John 15:16)
So life is filled with choices. Someone had said, “You are not responsible for what others do to you, but you are responsible for the reaction you have towards the words spoken or acts which have been done to you.”
I choose to live with thankfulness, to devote my life to serving the Lord, to choose life and to act with forgiveness and generosity to those I am in contact with day by day.
I am also thankful that God has chosen me to bear fruit, and I seek to live my life to bear fruit to His glory, and let Jesus shine through me every day.
by Charles Sibthorpe
