Choose what is better

Pastors' Desk

Choose what is better

Details: Created on Sunday, 15 January 2012 10:15; Written by Ps Gina Sunderland

Holidays bring spare time to clean out cupboards and drawers in our homes……

This CUPBOARD LOOKS GREAT ON THE OUTSIDE

But on the inside… messy, overcrowded with stuff and not in order…. and needed cleaning up

This key opened the cupboard…. and then I decided what to keep and what not to keep… Although the KEY gave me access to get into my cupboard, it was because of MY CHOICES that the inside was tidied and cleaned out……

As I was doing this I quickly realised that it was also my choices that caused it to be in such a mess

Everything in my cupboard was attached to my life somehow and had been placed in there at different times by my own hand, many things in my cupboard were of no use to me now and took up room, using up space

HOWEVER…when I began sifting through each drawer I found some very special and important things buried under the other ‘stuff’…

Gold Medal SATD….
40^th birthday Teddy brooch…..
passport…
music box ……
watch/locket from Graham before we were married…
a ring my Mother gave me shortly before she died….
cards that I had kept with loving messages written by my children and grandchildren…..

This other ‘stuff’ had taken up space, when in fact, there was no need for it to be inside my cupboard at all…. and although by nature, I am usually a tidy person and prefer my home and surroundings to be clean and neat. I considered the inside of my cupboard and thought about how it had become so MESSY…overcrowded with stuff …

I realized it was…….BUSYNESS!!!

In the busyness of my day to day life….I had not stopped to consider whether or not certain things or items were really needed in my life….and instead of making a choice about this…I simply kept opening my cupboard and filling my drawers with ‘stuff’ (plane tickets…buttons…labels from clothing purchase….empty boxes etc)

As I began to clean out my drawers…..I could hardly believe how much ‘stuff’ I had allowed to remain…and as I tidied, the inside of my drawers not only looked cleaner and more organised…but I began to feel better also….. and the things that held great value in my heart were put back into their rightful place.. no longer covered by junk…..

As we enter 2012…let this be a year of ….

MAKING BETTER CHOICES for all of us

Our lives...just like my cupboard…although looking great on the outside… can sometimes be a big mess on the inside… filled with ‘stuff’ that overshadows valuable things … and this ‘stuff’ will eventually dominate our lives

I have learned that there are choices that are ‘better’ and these will lead to life, good health, and blessings. Unwise ones can bring chaos, heartache, sickness, ruin, and for some people, even death.

God has given you and I the power to choose…

God has also given us the KEY that is the BIBLE

This KEY…(The Bible) opens a door for us…just like this key did for my cupboard…..and just like my cupboard… once opened… I can stand in front of the Word of God and by my choices, allow my life to be cleaned up and rearranged… and like the drawers inside my cupboard... stuff is removed from my life, allowing the special and highly valued things of God to take their rightful place

THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT CHOICES

(NIV) Luke 10:38-42 Jesus visits the home of Martha and Mary on the way to Jerusalem

Martha fussing….dinner….

⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one.^[^a^] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

There is much to learn from this scripture…..

Being busy with your work, family commitments, household chores, and the like are never-ending in this life. But time with Jesus is “what is better”.
To experience His presence….we must allow space in our lives for prayer… bible reading….quiet time…worship and personal meditation upon Him…..
Martha was busy in the kitchen, while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet listening to Him. Both Martha and Mary were doing good things, but Jesus said that by choosing time with Him, Mary had “chosen what is better”.
You do not need to be a rocket scientist to understand that Jesus is teaching us that Mary had made a smart choice!

JOSHUA (who lead the people of Israel after Moses died) ALSO CHALLENGES US TO MAKE A SMART CHOICE…TO CHOOSE WHAT IS BETTER

Joshua 24:14-15 Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

Choose to serve God over every other option
Choose God over the world’s riches
Choose Jesus over the fear of man’s disfavor
Choose Christ’s Church over weekend after weekend of self-indulgence

DAVID….(NIV) Psalm 119:v30, v173 I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws.... [173] May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.

The way of truth, God’s Word & God’s precepts, is the way to be assured of His help in our lives.
Choose the Bible over man’s philosophies.
Look into the Bible for answers when you need help.
Apply God’s Word to life situations and you will find wisdom…you will find a better way

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 …. I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life,

“Choose life!” ... choose blessings! Life and blessings in your life are dependent on you making smart choices.

DURING THIS YEAR….whether you are Single, Married, Widowed, young or old….

CHOOSE WISELY

In spiritual practices, choose life — for example, regular prayer, regular Bible reading, faithful church attendance, consistent worship of God.
Don't be passive and let yourself be "a victim". You have the power to choose the right options for your life.
Choose your close friendships wisely…
An unequally yoked marriage — that is, a believer married to an unbeliever.

More serious stuff…….

corrupting options — drugs, immorality, excessive use of alcohol …instead…..

Choose edifying, life-affirming habits and practices.
In the pro-life vs. pro-choice debate, choose life!

REMEMBER…..

Your eternal “reward” is preferable to the fleeting sinful pleasures of this world.
Victory over sin requires a long-term perspective.
As you choose the Lord over this world’s ways, be prepared for and expect persecution (Matthew 5).
Don’t ever choose to be comfortable with “the world” and make yourself an enemy of God.

James 4:4 (NLT)

⁴ Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.