I Could Go With This... Or I Could Go With That...

Don't you know that to be a friend of the world is to hate God? So anyone who chooses to be the world's friend becomes God's enemy. James 4:4, NIrV

I don't really enjoy choosing sides. I also find it very difficult sometimes to make decisions and fully commit. And in the big arguments, I'd rather just remain neutral.

I'm basically Switzerland.

Can you relate?

For instance: I don't always want to make the choice of where to eat supper. I'm good with Chick-fil-a or Mellow Mushroom. Doesn't really matter to me. Somebody just needs to decide so I can stop driving around in circles...

I don't really want to help with the decision on what color we should paint our den. I think that the more important question is: Why are we painting it again?

I don't really care when faced with the choice of which department store we should go to first. I'm mainly concerned with whether or not it will have a "dad chair" for me to fall asleep in.

Even though God knows how indecisive I can be, Jesus demands a choice.

James 4:4 says that I have to choose between being a friend of the world or a friend of Jesus. Can't be both. The problem is, we often decide to put certain worldly values (materialism, popularity, etc.) over our relationship with Jesus.

Joshua 24:15 says that we need to choose who we will worship. Joshua stands before the Israelites and says, "...you must choose for yourselves today whom you will serve... As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord." (CEV)

Scripture calls for us to choose between our selfish desires and God's will. Actually, Jesus bluntly says that we are to "die to ourselves" and choose to live completely sold out to God. Matthew 16:24.

The Apostle Paul reminds us to choose faith over fear. "In Christ we can come before God with freedom and without fear. We can do this through faith in Christ." Eph. 3:12 (NCV).

When God asks us to do something, we have a choice. Are you going to fall back on your fear and stay frozen? Or are you going to tame your fear and take a step toward faith?

Jesus says that if we choose the world, our idols, our own lives over Jesus, we will lose everything. But if we are willing to make a stand and choose Him, we can save our lives. Matthew 16:25

As much as I hate making decisions, this one is easy.

Today (and every day from here on out), I'm choosing Christ.

What/who will you choose today?