It would seem I’m in a competition
For where I get to, or at the very least, need to,
Spend the hours of my day
On a multitude of projects.
Instead of life existing in parallel
Getting things done in certain time zones,
Causes me to make difficult choices
This or that, I can’t do both.
Something will win.
Something will lose.
Can I live with that?
While thinking about my day’s schedule, I realized how difficult choices can be.
I want to do this.
I don’t want to do that.
Or do I have the knowledge to make the best choice?
Often, simple decisions like this make each of us successful or not.
The early church was learning how to make choices to continue teaching about Jesus or not. They had all the input they needed – “We ought to obey God rather than men,” says Peter (Acts 5:30). The problem? They had a commission (Matthew 28:18-20). They were empowered with the Spirit (Acts 2:1-4, 4:8, etc.) and were not in a position of disobeying God. Several times, they were released from prison with the command to keep doing their calling.
Finally, Gamaliel, a Pharisee and teacher of the law respected by all, gave the religious leaders some reasoning on how to handle the “Jesus” problem.
“And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone;
for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing;
but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”
(Acts 5:38-39 NKJV)
Our most important challenge will be related to our calling from God. What will we choose to do? How do we spend our time? Do we have enough hours in the day to do everything? If not, what will we choose?
Judas, Demas, Ananias, Sapphia – all made choices and lost. But a “faith choice” will be the right choice. (Hebrews 11) And those that make the right choice will be the majority of those we don’t even know by name. (Hebrews 11:36-40)
Samson, David, Jonah, and a host of others made bad choices in the beginning but learned the value of changing their focus and winning in the end.
Lay out your choices and understand your options. Something will win. Something will lose. Just make sure you have the knowledge to make the best choice.
This is your important competition for the day.
Thank you for reading.
Please share with others.
It helps me get my book written!
(Below, you may find other topics similar to this one. Please read on!)