Making the best choice

You did not choose me, but I chose you (John 15:16).

Of all the decisions that we make in life, none are more important than those regarding Jesus. Will you go to church on Sunday or sleep in? Will you take the kids to Sunday School or let them play video games instead? Will you read the Bible or watch television? Each of these decisions impacts your relationship with Jesus, either strengthening it or allowing it to weaken.

I’ve said before that each of us has only a limited ability to make choices. Nowhere is this more obvious than in matters of faith. We don’t choose to believe in Jesus; we’re not capable of such a choice. Paul writes, the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so (Romans 8:7). Without God’s influence, Christianity seems ridiculous to the sinful mind—Paul says, The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him (1 Corinthians 2:14). Until Jesus changes our hearts, we cannot choose to love Him. He said, You did not choose me, but I chose you.

But God does not force us to love Him. We do have a choice in the matter—we can choose to reject His offer of companionship. Of course, such rejection grieves our Lord terribly; listen to Jesus’ words as He looked in sorrow at Jerusalem and its people: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem…how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! (Luke 13:34) And rejecting Jesus is the worst decision anyone can possibly make, because without Jesus our sins remain a part of us, and death will lead to judgment and hell. Jesus said, Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him (John 3:36).

We need God’s help to make good decisions. Philippians chapter two says, it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Jesus said, I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5). No matter how busy you are, make time for God’s Son in your schedule, studying His word and praying for His guidance. Build each day around Jesus, that all of your decisions might be good ones.