Choices: August 30, 2011

AUGUST 30 2011. TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY AUGUST 30, 2011.

CHOICES

DEFINITION:

The act or instance of choosing; selection; the right or power or opportunity to choose; a variety from which to choose.

SCRIPTURE:

Jesus said: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit.” John 15:16

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

“A good name is rather to be chosen then great riches.” Proverbs 22:1

“Refuse evil and choose good.” Isaiah 7:15

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Every day we make many CHOICES in our day-to-day living. Some of these choices we make are good and some are bad. We choose what we wear. We choose what we eat. We choose where we go. As parents we choose how we lead and teach. And as children we choose how we respond. Each and every day we have to make choices. Choices have consequences that affect our life and shapes us into whom and what we are.

The greatest and most important CHOICE we must make in our life is whether to serve God or not to serve God. One way or the other everyone makes that choice. This choice is easy to make. If we choose to serve God we have made a good and positive choice. If you choose not to serve God, you have chosen – even by not acting – not to serve God.

How can we determine when the choices we make in our daily lives are right or wrong? The right choice will not be in conflict with God’s Word – the Bible. This is why it is so important to study the Bible because in the Bible is God’s guide book for our life. The Psalmist said: “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105.

Parents have a huge responsibility to train their children in how to make choices. There are so many outside influences today that make a profound impact on children’s thinking and affect the choices they make. Four of the most harmful are peer pressure, music, the internet, and television. Parents must be constantly on the alert and that is why we encourage every family to have dinner together every night, without distractions from “things,” so your children can talk and you can listen to what they are seeing and feeling.

Parents must begin teaching their children at a very early age that making the wrong choices can have a negative effect on their lives for a life-time. And the opposite is also true. Making the right choices affects one’s life in a positive way for a life time.

The choices children make are influenced by what they have observed in the actions of their parents. That is why we parents must live a consistent Christian life putting God first in all we do and in all we say.

As a parent do you take into consideration how the choices you make will affect your children and grandchildren? (Exodus 20:4-5) Parents who live by faith before God will have a strong influence for the positive on their children and grandchildren.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Galatians 3:28.

There is neither Jew or Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus

PRAYER:

Give us this day, dear Lord the wisdom to make choices to honor Your name. We give You praise for choosing us and then allowing us to choose to follow You and then bear fruit for Your sake. Help us to make the right decisions today for our choice of friends, our choice of words and our actions. Protect our children, dear Lord, from harmful choices. Thank You for being our Lord and our Savior.