On the fence?

Do you live intentionally?  Let me ask it a little differently. Do you have a set of goals for your life, for this day? Does life ‘just happen’ to you or are you purposeful? Not for one moment would I tell you that you are the master of your universe, that you can control every circumstance of your life. The person who attempts that is destined for disappointment and in the process will be an incredible pain in the neck to everyone with whom they are connected. We used to call such people ‘control freaks.’  Controlling people seldom know what they are doing because they believe so strongly that the world would be better off if only people would do what they think best. There is, however, strength to be found in making ‘first’ choices that are developed around principles.

As Joshua, the leader of Israel, was nearing death, he called the nation’s leaders together and challenged them to intentional living!  He said “So honor the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14-15, NLT)

Some people get so bewildered by the multiple choices in life that they get ‘stuck,’ unable or unwilling to move ahead. Yesterday when grocery shopping, I went to the aisle where I find my favorite hot sauce. (Cholula Chipotle)  The supermarket has literally dozens of options in that one section: different brands and flavors within those brands. My selection took just seconds because I knew what I wanted.  Another man stood looking at the display, picking up bottles, looking at labels. When I passed that aisle a few minutes later, he was still standing there looking at hot sauces, apparently confused by the array of choices that faced him. I hope he found one that he will enjoy.

We make the best choices when we know our God, when we have set our sights on loving and serving Him as a priority intention. That is why Joshua said to Israel - “Fear God. Worship him in total commitment. . . . If you decide that it’s a bad thing to worship God, then choose a god you’d rather serve—and do it today. . . . As for me and my family, we’ll worship God.”  He was not going to wait for the crisis moment to decide. God was Lord of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Elijah, a few generations later, called the leaders of Israel together for a show-down and demanded a choice –  “How long are you going to waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” 1 Kings 18:21, NLT)

Jesus challenged 12 men to “Come, follow me!”  They had to leave behind their work, their families, their own interests. He asks the same of us. His words are simple and clear: “No one can serve two masters.”  If we answer His call with an unequivocal, "Yes!" we will find great freedom and new direction for life. The wondering and wandering will be over for us. Life will be purposeful. There will be moments of stress, times when we may wonder if we have taken the right way, but if we keep focused on Him, we will not fall or falter, for the choice is made.

Is your choice made, or are you still 'on the fence?'
Are you trying to protect all your options and as a consequence doing little or nothing for the Lord and His work?
Are you miserable because you are trying to keep one foot in the things of this world and the other in the Kingdom of God?

Choose!
If you are not ready to make Him Lord of all, then do not attempt to make Him Lord at all! He is a jealous God and will not allow you to share your affections with other gods.

For those who attempt a life on the fence, Christianity is deeply unsatisfying. Many want Him to be their Savior. They want the assurance that God is there for them, that Heaven's door will be open to them when the last act is played - but they want to hang onto their autonomy, to say and do what they want, without seeking or submitting to the Lord God. James says that people who live without intentionality become "unstable in all their ways." They cannot enjoy anything because they are trying to own everything. So, choose today! If God is really God, then serve Him. Consider these words of Jesus and I pray that they will compel you to choose Him as Lord of life.

The word from the Word invites us to get off the fence. Jesus spoke to a young man who was trying to have life both ways. "Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:61-62, NIV)  

Lord, I’m yours: all I am, all I’m not, all I hope to be. Amen.

 

(Video of this blog at this link)

____________________

 

Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou my vision
O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me
Save that Thou art
Thou my best thought
By day or by night
Waking or sleeping
Thy presence my light

Be Thou my wisdom
Be Thou my true Word
I ever with Thee
And Thou with me Lord
Thou my great Father
I Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling
And I with Thee one

Riches I heed not
Nor man's empty praise
Thou mine inheritance
Now and always
Thou and Thou only
Be first in my heart
High King of heaven
My treasure Thou art

High King of heaven
When vict'ry is won
May I reach heaven's joys
O bright heaven's Sun
Heart of my own heart
Whatever befall
Still be my vision
O Ruler of all

 

Eleanor Henrietta Hull | Mary Elizabeth Byrne

© Words: Public Domain