Day 324 - Making Godly Choices

"The guy I met with shared that he had been a drug addict and when he started coming to the church he was coming on the buses and getting food. He really loves The Rock for that. He now has a job and a vehicle and when he gives his tithes he knows it is going to help people and further the gospel. He told me that God jammed him up that he needed to choose either the drugs or his kids. Thankfully he made the right choice for his kids."

Too many times we hear of people who we know and love making the wrong choices. Their decisions effect their own personal lives as well as their families and friends. It is sad to see the results of wrong choices and bad decisions. 

I have shared in past blogs about how I hate seeing the effects of sin. It grieves me when people who were once on fire for the Lord turn their backs and walk away. But here in today's journal entry I see someone who was stuck in his sinful ways making a Godly decision. 

What made him different? How did he arrive at Godly decisions where others fail? 

I see some key things in his life. First was that he had an open heart to hear the word of the Lord. He had been getting help and the goodness of God lead him to repentance. He was attending church and his life was changing. We all at some point or another will be confronted with the word of God. You cannot hear the truth and not be challenged to change. The word is designed to show you where you need to change and then give you the power to change. 

The second thing I see that helped him to make a Godly choice was that he saw what was important. His children are ultimately more important than the pleasure he was receiving from his sin. Those drugs could never be as important as his children. The value he placed on them made the decision easy. It also showed him the severity of making the wrong choice. 

Finally, he add the choice based on his relationship to the Lord. He was learning from God and now was presented with a choice from the Holy Spirit. When you have a relationship with someone and you know their character then when they ask you for something it makes the choice easier. Knowing who God is and having the fellowship of the Holy Spirit will help us to make Godly decisions. 

What factors help you to make the right decisions? How can we differentiate between Godly and ungodly? 

Day 243 - No Man Knows

"It's crazy to think that someone came to church today and they didn't make it home."

Last year a man came to church and had a heart attack. He was transported to a nearby hospital and died. Thankfully we found out that he was a believer and had a solid relationship with the Lord. We know where he is now. 

Jesus speaks of his coming as a thief in the night. No man knows the day or the hour He will come. We need to be ready for His return. We need to live right and help others with their eternity as well. 

I have heard young people say "I have time". How foolish. I have done funerals for young people. Some have said "On my deathbed I will get right with God". I am not so sure that will work because God sees the heart and if it isn't genuine it won't be accepted. God is no fool and He isn't mocked. 

Today is the day of decision and now is the time of salvation. If you haven't yet given your heart and life to the Lord I would like to offer you the opportunity (click here). If you know that you're born again but haven't been living like you should it is time to repent and renew your relationship with the Lord. Pray and ask forgiveness and start now on the things you should be doing. 

How do you feel when you think about the Lord's return? What are some ways we can prepare for His coming?