Life Choices
Say What You Want. Your Choices Determine Your Path
Just A Girl Who Loves Jesus
This Post Helps You Complete Week 2
Free Will to Choose God's Will
Everyone is loved by Jesus, but your path depends on your choices. Some easily choose to embrace God’s will, while others feel hostility towards the idea, leading them to reject God completely. For those who completely reject God, that is their choice. This Podcast is for those who are considering life with Jesus.
Free will is a generous gift, but also a great responsibility. The choice to step into God’s will changes your perspective, shapes relationships, and flows into eternity.
It seems that some have an intuitive sense that God is there, feeling his presence in little things. They recognize his work in life, knowing that human will leads to an ecosystem of destruction and self-seeking at other's expense.
For those with natural awareness of God, they choose him at a young age. Recognizing that there is nothing sin doesn't pollute, they look to the will of God to lead them through the world.
For those with a more rebellious spirit, they run after the freedom the world has to offer. Sometimes trying to mix in some religion with their wild ways. Trying to mix Jesus into their sin cocktail makes for a destructive life that may look good, but ultimately shocks the Christian rebel because they figured they were better off than those who completely rejected God.
Story Time: Listen to this real example.
I find people and their behavior fascinating, which leads me to watch some interesting tv shows that you might now expect. The kind where I eat snacks and think about why people act the way they do.
Last weekend I start watching this new show about women who supposedly believe in Jesus, yet the premise of the show is that they got caught in a swinging sex scandal.
I'm not sure that the women believe in the same Jesus that Christian's believe in, but pictures representing Jesus kept coming on the screen. It caused something to rise up in me.
I don't want to bash the women on the show. They can do what they want, but they can't have it both ways.
You can't follow Jesus and constantly run out bounds. I will circle back to that in a minute.
It was like they kept trying to act like they had strong belief in their church, but then talked about all the ways they were crossing the line. The show's description actually says something like, will their brand be able to survive and continue to give the rulebook a run for its money, or will they fall from grace?
I kept cringing when they mixed in Jesus. It just felt disrespectful. Like stop doing that.
If you know me, I will gladly admit that I am far from perfect, but I do feel like I have enough respect for Jesus to try to represent him well. Or at least not mock him.
Why can't you chase after sin and follow Jesus? Because they are going in opposite directions.
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24
God's superior reality functions differently than this world. That is why it requires you to let go of old ways of living and functioning. Once you choose Jesus as your savior, he teaches you to recognize ways the enemy is trying to tempt you and cause you to struggle.
The Shift to a Higher Way of Thinking
God does not tempt anyone; rather, individuals are led astray by their own desires.
When we act on these desires, it results in sin, creating chaos and disorder in our lives.
By choosing Jesus, you can break free from the sinful actions that ensnare you. You have the opportunity to walk in the Spirit, aligning yourself with God's will.
Through Baptism, you receive the Holy Spirit, who serves as a helper in the lives of believers.
He also convicts us of sin, embodies truth, offers wisdom and understanding, and serves as our source of power.
"When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1: 13-15 NIV
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. Galatians 5:16-17 NIV
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How can we choose the right path if we continue to stick with the same people or surroundings