Make a Decision

A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways...

Former President Ronald Reagan once had an aunt who took him to a cobbler for a pair of new shoes. The cobbler asked young Reagan, "Do you want square toes or round toes?" Unable to decide, Reagan didn't answer, so the cobbler gave him a few days. Several days later the cobbler saw Reagan on the street and asked him again what kind of toes he wanted on his shoes. Reagan still couldn't decide, so the shoemaker replied, "Well, come by in a couple of days. Your shoes will be ready."

When the future President did so, he found one square-toed and one round-toed shoe! "This will teach you to never let people make decisions for you," the cobbler said to his indecisive customer. "I learned right then and there," Reagan said later, "if you don't make your own decisions, someone else will."

The people of Elijah’s day faced the problem of indecision. They couldn’t decide whether they wanted to follow God or the idols King Ahab had built. That problem is also prevalent in Christianity today. Many Christians can’t decide whether they believe God’s Word and want to trust Him, or live for the pleasures of this world. They are torn between living for God and living for self.

As the people were contemplating their options, Elijah spoke up. He said in 1 Kings 18:21, “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.” Elijah asked them, “What are you going to do? God has revealed Himself to you time and time again. Yet this wicked king has come in and set false gods before you. You must make a decision. Choose whom you will serve.”

Many Christians need the very same wake-up call. Some Christians, like Joshua, need to decide to serve God no matter what, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).

We live in a very apathetic day. Christians are not as committed to God as they once were. The Christians of the past faced persecution, beatings, and martyrdom for their faith. I wonder if that same persecution were to come, how Christians of today would respond? How would you respond?

Israel faced a decision. Were they going to continue serving idols, or were they going to trust God and serve Him? We are faced with similar situations every day. The devil tempts Christians daily to serve idols or self, rather than serving God. But we all make a decision. We choose to serve God or serve self.

How do you respond to temptation in your life? You must make a decision. You must, like the Israelites in Elijah’s day, choose to serve self or serve God. We all fail every now and then in making this decision, so don’t be discouraged if you make the wrong decision! Ask God’s forgiveness and move on! Don’t ruin the future by living in light of past failures. Determine today to seek God’s help in making the decision to serve Him rather than self.

Source: dailyintheword.org, March 7, 2008