Who Do You Choose

07/16/21 • 2 min

We live in a broken world, and humanity is the most broken and imperfect of all God’s creation.

The world has a permanent OUT OF ORDER sign on it, and as a result, most of us are looking for answers to our questions, and solutions to our problems, in all the wrong places.

We place our trust in ourselves, in shallow standards of beauty, in money, and in our relationships with other people, hoping for meaning and completion we will never find in these sources.

We are lost people, following false gods, hoping for the elusive spiritual peace that only God can give us.

Our deliverance won’t come in the form of a blank check, a beauty treatment, self-empowerment, or even the most fulfilling relationship with a parent, spouse, or child; the fulfillment we seek will come to us only when we choose God, and put Him first.

Joshua 24:15 says, “Choose this day whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

For thousands of years, worldly things have called to humanity, offering false promises, and failing to deliver. From the very beginning, and before this world was even created, the one true God was. He is. He always will be. And when we choose Him, He promises to give us lasting hope, peace, and love for all eternity.

Nothing in a jar, box, or bank account can come close, and no relationship means more.

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, we choose you. Only you are worthy above every false god, above every temptation, above our relationships with people, money, or things. We choose you, and ask you to guide us in putting you first, in all things. Amen.

We live in a broken world, and humanity is the most broken and imperfect of all God’s creation.

The world has a permanent OUT OF ORDER sign on it, and as a result, most of us are looking for answers to our questions, and solutions to our problems, in all the wrong places.

We place our trust in ourselves, in shallow standards of beauty, in money, and in our relationships with other people, hoping for meaning and completion we will never find in these sources.

We are lost people, following false gods, hoping for the elusive spiritual peace that only God can give us.

Joshua 24:15 says, “Choose this day whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Nothing in a jar, box, or bank account can come close, and no relationship means more.

Let’s pray.

Previous Episode

Loyalty to One

Family is a wonderful thing, and these relationships do so much to enrich our lives, but family makes a lousy god.

People sometimes think...if only my relationship was better with my dad, or if only I found a husband or wife, or if only we had kids — then life would be complete. A picture-perfect family is a blessing, indeed, but this is not where God wants us to seek meaning in our lives.

Family relationships are complicated, and since we’re talking about people – not God – we are sure to be disappointed when a parent, sibling, spouse, or child lets us down. Like us, each of these beloved people in our lives are marked by imperfection.

We love our families (or the dream of a future family) dearly, but this isn’t where we should ultimately place our hope.

Joshua 24:15 says, “Choose this day whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

The Bible tells us in order to be a disciple, we must be willing to give up everything for Jesus. Following Jesus requires commitment and faithfulness, even if our parents or spouse choose not to follow the Lord. If and when we are faced with the painful choice of loyalty to family versus loyalty to Jesus, we must choose Jesus.

Luke 14:26 says, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”

Even if our family members disown us—or worse—for being Christians, we must follow Christ. Jesus’s command to “hate his own father and mother” isn’t a suggestion about how to treat our loved ones. The Lord requires us to prioritize our relationship with Him over our relationships with parents, siblings, a spouse, children, and even ourselves. We must choose to place our hope in God, above all other relationships.

Let’s pray.

God, you alone make life worth living. No earthly relationship, by birth or bond, takes priority over our relationship with you. Thank you for being the one true God we can follow, and rely on. Amen.

Next Episode

Jesus Has Overcome It All

A common theme today is that people are just bone-tired of chaos, both public and private. It’s exhausting sometimes dealing with bad relationships. Global problems are with us every day. We wonder when it will end.

There is Good News for you, though. Literally Good News.

1 John 5:4 says, “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”

This is a message to us that we don’t have to win the war ourselves. We don’t have to win a battle. Don’t have to take part even in a skirmish. Jesus has overcome it all. If you wonder how this can play out in practical terms, do this:

Read this verse several times. Make the choice to believe it’s true. Then just literally sit back and close your eyes for a little while and rest in the truth of God’s Word.

He is telling us that our faith overcomes all setbacks and difficulties. Our faith. Scripture tells us that faith is the substance of things hoped for. We might not be able to see the end, but we trust God that He will be standing there.

Choose to be a warrior for Christ, and let Him lead. That is what will make the difference.

Let’s pray. Thank you, Lord, for winning the war already. We worship you alone. Amen.