Hello, Friends. How many times have we found it difficult to make simple choices? Now for the record, our choices can/will impact our faith walk.
Consider the following “simple choice” examples:
- It’s a simple choice to be courteous; not to render evil for evil (1 Peter 3:8-9).
- It’s a simple choice to esteem others; not strife or vainglory (Philippians 2:3).
- It’s a simple choice to confirm with grace; not with meats (Hebrews 13:9).
- It’s a simple choice to have a pure heart; not be deceitfully hearted (Psalm 24:4).
- It’s a simple choice to believeth on Jesus; not be condemned (John 3:15-18).
- It’s a simple choice to live obediently; not in the former lusts (1 Peter 1:14).
- It’s a simple choice to live soberly; not in worldly lusts (Titus 2:11)….
There are too many times we take things far, far out of proportion because of the failures to make simple choices.
Well … is your heart in the right condition to yield to God’s word with little to no resistance? Do you strive to submit to God? Is it difficult for you to submit to those whom God gave to rule over you (i.e., bishop/pastor)—who literally watch for your soul by the command of God?
Think about it …. Do you know these things for sure, or no? If you’re not sure—please ask.
Come Clean—
Friends, we hope you do come clean with yourself (and with God). But if not, ask Him to cleanse you from the error, and, from secret faults (as we all should do, daily); seek Him with your whole heart while He may be found … and that is:
- with an heart desperately insistent to know the deepest immoralities in it, only God knows.
- He will bring them to the surface of your attention to prove if you love Him AND hate, repent, and renounce each error He presents;
- if you pass the test, He will cast each sin behind His back, and into the depths of the sea.
The Judgment—
In the natural, this is an example of a case in the judicial system—all charges are dropped, and the defendant is free to go. In the Spiritual, however, the Lord will no longer bring up a fault after penitents and remission of sins. The remission of sins removes all penalties (and guilts) of sins committed; the person, is therefore, forgiven AND pardoned from past sins.
Please know and understand, it is not enough to be forgiven of sins … one must also be pardoned (for the remission of sins)!
However, if you fail to hate, repent, and renounce any error God presents—He may extend mercy to allow you another chance to repent. But, if you continue to refuse to reconcile unto Him … He will send every immortality (you refused to be forever separated from) back to the secret faults area of your heart for a season, or until the day of judgment.
The Psalmist (David) wrote:
- (Psalm 19:12-14) Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
- (Psalm 139:23-24) Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Jeremiah wrote, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” — Jeremiah 17:9-10
Can you imagine, the Lord revealed to Jeremiah “the heart is deceitful above all things” … which included his (Jeremiah’s) own heart? It never ceases to amaze me how God works. The word “deceitful” here in the Strong’s, refers to the heart as “crooked” with the tendency to be “fraudulent, sly, or insidious.” Insidious? Yep! According Merriam-Webster, the word “insidious” means, “causing harm in a way that is gradual or not easily noticed” … it is related to “enticement and seduction.”
James gives an excellent answer, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” — James 1:14-15
The Perfect—
The aforementioned writers (Jeremiah, David and James) knew their hearts needed to be cleansed in order to worship the Lord, and to be inspired by Him to write His word—for without a perfect heart no written scripture would be inspired by God. — 2 Timothy 3:16
Today, God’s (true) writers strive to make the “simple choice” to be perfect as He gave commandment. And, that’s why His bishops/pastors preach, warn, and teach in all wisdom; so that they may present us perfect in Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:28). Also, the Lord’s other pulpit leaders speak wisdom among those who are perfect; not the wisdom of this world … they teach God’s word, judge certain matters, and bear the burden with the bishop/pastor (1 Corinthians 2:6; Exodus 18:21-22).
Remember, all writers of the scriptures did so as they were inspired by God. Their hearts needed to be right (pure) from God’s perspective before His grace moved on them to scribe as He dictated (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
And Now, to Top it All Off—
We must be sure to approach the Lord with the right attitude, and with the right information as true worshippers.
- The right attitude—faith in God.
- The right information—fully persuaded who God is.
- The true worshipper—adoration toward God in spirit, and in truth.
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” — Hebrews 11:6
Who Do You Trust?—
Do you have a willing heart to make the simple choice to have faith in God … not in yourself, and not in men?
- (Proverbs 28:26) He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
- (Proverbs 25:19) Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
- (Psalm 118:8) It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
See! Why did the Lord say it’s better to trust in Him? Well, let’s look into the word “better” in the Ancient Hebrew and Strong’s. It refers to “something that functions properly” (Ancient Hebrew) … something “good, agreeable, excellent, highest estimated value” (Strong’s).
For those who put their trust or confidence in man (especially as it pertains to the things of God), never, ever fully function properly. Why? Here are two (of many) reasons: 1) they think more highly of themselves than they ought, and 2) they seek the honor of men but not the honor that cometh from God, only. In both instances, the simple choice is to put trust (confidence) in God, and never in man.
Those who make the simple choice to honor God will be honored by Him.
Those who make the foolish choice to despise God will be lightly esteemed by Him.
— 1 Samuel 2:30
Get the picture? We surely hope so!
Make the simple choices …and… glorify God while you’re at it! 😎….
In Christ We Do Remain
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