11.23.07
“THE RIGHT CHOICE!”
Deuteronomy 30:19-20
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”
Have you ever made a choice and later regret the choice? If you haven’t, you are a rare breed. I can vividly recall as Joyce and I traveled toward a new duty station with the US Air Force in Rapid City, South Dakota. As we looked at the map, we saw that we could choose one of two routes. We had never traveled through that area before and were perplexed as to which route we should take. One looked shorter so we decided to take it. WRONG CHOICE! We ended up in a snow storm, off the road and walking two miles for help. Ah, yes! I remember it well!
Let me tell you of a choice a young man, named Dan had to make. Dan came to my office for counseling. He had more than his share of troubles, one of which was his job. He worked for a potato processing plant. It was a seasonal job and not very appealing. Dan complained of the working conditions and especially about his supervisor.
I asked Dan: “What is the worst task associated with your job?” Without hesitation he said: It is cleaning up rotten potatoes at the end of the processing line.” I smiled (my evil smile) and said: “I would like for you to volunteer for that job. But not only volunteer for it, count the ways you can be thankful for it.” My advise was not met with a great deal of enthusiasm, but he agreed to do it.
A week later Dan burst into my office with more excitement than a kid who has discovered a stash of candy. He had followed through and asked for the assignment. His volunteering for that despised task so shocked his obnoxious supervisor that his whole attitude toward Dan changed. Within weeks Dan’s pay was increased and at the end of the season Dan was the last of the temporary employees to be let go.
It was a choice Dan had made. Dan determined in his heart to serve this menial task—as unto the Lord! He said that one of the benefits of that assignment was the time alone with God. He worked alone and could spend all the time he wanted on memorizing and meditating on Scripture as well as praying to the Lord with joy in his heart. His choice was to be content with a task that others despised. Wow! That was dynamite!
My prayer for each of us is that we would begin to live our lives fully for Christ. What a change the world would see if they observed believers living a totally dedicated life. “Only one life, t’will soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing.
- - - Pastor Cecil