Monday, December 16, 2013

Free Choices

There is freedom in choices. We makes choices everyday that we don't realize are choices. Getting out of bed, going to a job that we have chosen to do, taking care of children, exercising, praying, even eating.

When we do things everyday that we don't realize are choices, our choices are made for us. Staying in a job that we detest, going to church that is not feeding us or where we aren't allowed to exercise our gifts, maintaining toxic relationships are a few examples.

Jesus gave us a choice. We can follow Him or not. Very simple. But we cannot do this out of our own will. We have to engage Jesus with the help of the Holy Spirit.

We are able choose Him because He first chose us. He created us to love Him, but we can only love Him because He loved us first.

This is not a choice made out of guilt, fear or even habit.

The path to Jesus is narrow but everyone's path is individual. Because He made all of us unique, our road is just that, our road. We cannot compare our past and future with anyone. He never says to compare, just come. Keep your eyes on Me.

Our walk is as different as the gifts He gives us. The only thing the paths have in common is that we can only get to the Father through Jesus. How that happens is up to true submission to the Holy Spirit.

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

"It is to you your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper (Holy Spirit) will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you." John 16:7

Just as the first disciples were called to different work, we are also. If we pressure those around is to look, act, walk toward Jesus just like us, we give no freedom for the Holy Spirit to guide them.

"When the Spirit of truth (Holy Spirit) comes, he will guide you into all the truth." John 16:13

The only heart we are responsible for is our own.

Choices are important, our awareness of choices are even more so. The freedom to choose and the awareness of this freedom can come only come with an intimate relationship with our amazing Father.