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- 2000 AD : A twelve year old girl in Kerala commits suicide because of low marks.
- 1914 AD : Adolf Hitler destroyed lakhs of Jews with a thumbs up sign
- 0033 AD : The world is saved because of one mans decision to go to the cross.
All of us are faced with decisions, which have to be made. Good, bad, funny etc…
To cross road or not, To cry or not, to buy or not, To go to bathroom or not, To rob bank or not
To go to meeting or not, To read Bible or not, To obey parents or not, To tell lie at work or not
Even after becoming a disciple it does not end, yet some times we are caught in a trap of
Q1. WHAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO? WHAT IS MY PRIORITY? WHAT IS GodLY?
Yet it is all summed up very beautifully in Matthew 6:33.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
The promise is so assuring when we put God first, (all what we need will be given to us)
Yes, Yes we all understand that very well, God, but how do we apply it in life, sometimes it is a big challenge when the decision is based on something that does not appeal to our emotions.
Some times our physical needs take over our Godly needs, which in turn leads us to making emotional decisions, which could affect our lives. We all make emotional decisions (share) but how do we deal with it…
The question to ask ourselves, when we are faced with a tough choice or decision to make.
Q2. WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? , HOW WOULD JESUS FEEL?
A Few important areas where we could struggle in making Godly decisions
1. FAMILY
Many times we are faced with decisions with regards to our family who is important ?
Mark 3:31-35
31 Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him.
32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you."
33 "Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked.
34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers!
35 Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."
This describes who is important to Jesus, Family or the Church…
2. TEMPTATIONS
That's the biggest struggle we face as Christians temptation to get angry, lie, lust the list goes on.
Matthew 4:1-11
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.
6 "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"
7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.
9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
This describes the temptation of Jesus, He was hungry, tired yet never reacted or gave into temptation…
3. ATTENDING MEETINGS
Urgent board meeting, urgent family dinner, urgent urgent, there is always something urgent.
Luke 4:16
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.
Jesus always attended meetings NEVER MISSED, Bible says as was his custom…
Hebrews 10:25
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
We need to be in touch, we need the encouragement daily…
4. REGULAR PRAYER AND BIBLE STUDY
Mark 1:35
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Jesus always made sure to have a great prayer life, early in the morning…
Luke 2:46-47
46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.
Jesus even as a Young boy was well versed in the word, He loved it…
Taking advice helps, we all think we are wise but the truth is that we still need help.
Proverbs 19:20
Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.
Proverbs 16:25
There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
Our Decisions and our Priorities need to be based on the Godly standards not our own liking.
The key being in denying ourselves (Luke 9:23) only then can we allow God to work through us.even more powerfully. I pray that even as you go through this lesson you could become a tough man / woman of God and take the Gospel even higher.
Luke 9:23
Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
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