Decision Making

Decision Making

2 Corinthians 6: ¹⁴ Do not try to work together as equals with unbelievers, for it cannot be done. How can right and wrong be partners? How can light and darkness live together? ¹⁵ How can Christ and the Devil agree? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ How can God's temple come to terms with pagan idols? For we are the temple of the living God! As God himself has said,

 

“I will make my home with my people
    and live among them;
I will be their God,
    and they shall be my people.”
¹⁷ And so the Lord says,
“You must leave them
    and separate yourselves from them.
Have nothing to do with what is unclean,
    and I will accept you.
¹⁸ I will be your father,
    and you shall be my sons and daughters,
    says the Lord Almighty.”

 

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Seeking advice from my colleagues seemed to be the right thing to do. When I asked them questions about how to live life, they had some great answers, or so I thought. Once, they suggested I sneak away from work to get drunk. Other times they would say, “just lie” or “borrow it from the store.” “Okay” was my reply. But something had to change.

 

• I was headed down a dark path.
• I was tired of trying to follow rules that did not seem to get me “ahead” in life.
• I stepped away from following GOD so I could do what “I” wanted to do.

 

Paul says something quite harsh. He warns the believers of JESUS not to be influenced by those who do not seek HIM as their Savior. He is not saying believers are perfect, rather their decision making goes through a different filter.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to make decisions with the best information I have, namely HIS word.
• GOD wants me to test my decisions by asking believers for prayer, guidance and inspiration.
• GOD wants me to believe in JESUS and live for HIM so I can make decisions based on a life that inspires others to do the same.

 

Political thieves and power hungry people have sought to steal the precious name of JESUS. I mean, there are many complaints of the use of the word “Christian” because it is coupled with intolerance, impatience, ignorance and insulting behavior. Yes, I have done all the above. BUT GOD still wants me to speak on HIS behalf by learning about HIS love and aligning the message to HIM.

 

HE uses imperfect people to speak about JESUS, who was and is perfection. We cannot separate ourselves out of the world. Huddling around a bunch of people who look and act the same seems dangerous. GOD wants me to be in the world but not influenced by it. HE provides others who seek HIS face to encourage me and guide me. I am glad HE has many who follow HIM in all walks of life.

 

Challenge

• What do you notice about the urgency of the writers words?
• What suggestions do you have for someone who is trying to make decisions?
• Will you seek a group of imperfect people who believe in JESUS as their Savior, to help you in your decision making or to help others live for HIM today? 

Partnership

Luke 5: ⁹ For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; ¹⁰ and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” ¹¹ So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

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“Ask them questions to get to know them” someone suggested to me. I did not like this group of people, but I tolerated their arrogance because they were in charge. The more questions I asked, the more I did not like them. “Why am I here?’ I thought to myself.

• There were many times when I made up my mind to not like groups of people.
• There were many times when I sought to point out problems in people.
• There were many times when I brought negative words into a conversation even before meeting the person.

After JESUS performed the miracle of filling their nets with fish, HE said “Do not be afraid.” I believe HE was speaking on many levels. Do not be afraid of ME or what you will eat or what you will wear or who you talk to, just follow ME and you will catch those I give you. They decided to follow HIM.

• GOD wants me to partner with HIM so I can seek HIS merciful ways.
• GOD wants me to partner with HIM so I can point my ambitions toward HIM.
• GOD wants me to partner with HIM so I can drop the negative opinions of people and give them labels that only come from HIM.

Partnering with GOD means loving people I would not ordinarily love. It means getting rid of my prejudices and filling my mind with grace and fortitude to pursue humans who run away from GOD at every turn.

James, John and Peter also had a human partnership as friends and coworkers. One thing they had in common was they all sought JESUS as their savior and they gave up their lifestyle to follow HIM. They partnered with JESUS on a level that enabled them to do great things.

• Are you serving GOD on the surface?
• Are you afraid to give HIM your sins and are trying hard to be good and make everyone around you good?
• Will you stop trying to manipulate people and allow GOD to use your dirty parts to bring people to HIM?
• Can you drop your prejudices and allow GOD to send you to people who do not look or act like you today?