How to Make the Right Choice Every Time
by Apostles William & Monique Zook
by Apostles William & Monique Zook
Human choices in the Bible:
In the Old Testament the stress is laid on God's choices; nevertheless, human beings are also portrayed as making choices. At times, choices are made within established limits: the sacrificial animals the Israelites chose had to meet specific criteria (Ex 12:5; cf. Dt 1:13; Jos 3:12). Sometimes the choice that is urged on one is clear and vital. Israel was urged to follow God and so choose life rather than death (Dt 30:19). The Old Testament often returns to this theme. God's people are encouraged to choose what pleases the Lord (Isa 56:4; 65:12; 66:4) and fear of the Lord (Pr 1:29), not false gods (Jdg 10:14). Often the choices to be made are moral. Israel was to (in the words of the prophecy regarding the virgin's son) "reject the wrong and choose the right" (Isa 7:15-16). And the psalmist chose the way of truth (Ps 119:30), committing himself to keep God's precepts (Ps 119:173).
It is clear from this brief survey that the Old Testament treats the community of Israel and individuals within it as able to make spiritually significant choices. God established criteria to guide choices. And he laid out the pathway his people were to select. But the choice of what God had provided and the responsibility for the choice made remained with the nation and its members.
Human beings are shown in the New Testament as making choices. The church chose Stephen to be a church officer (Ac 6:5; cf 15:22). Companions were chosen for a missionary journey (Ac 15:40). Yet even more than the Old Testament, the New Testament focuses our attention on the choices of God. It is God's choices that the writers of the NewTestament are concerned with, and their use of these words consistently affirms God's freedom to act and affirms as well the grace that motivates his actions.
Choose life on the King's highway:
Deuteronomy 30:19...This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.
Numbers 20:17...Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the king's highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.
Let God be your guide:
Psalms 48:14...For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.
Luke 1:79...To shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.
John 16:13...But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
Let God lead you...no one but God:
Psalms 23:2-3...He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Exodus 23:2...Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd.
3John 11...Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.
Follow Jesus, for you know His voice:
John 10:3-4...The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
1Peter 2:21...To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
2Samuel 22:29...You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light.
Psalms 25:9...He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.
Leave your desires and choose His:
2Timothy 2:22...Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
1Timothy 6:11-12...But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1Corinthians 14:1...Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
Romans 14:19...Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
Remember, your choices are always obvious to everyone:
1Timothy 5:24-25...The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.
In the Old Testament the stress is laid on God's choices; nevertheless, human beings are also portrayed as making choices. At times, choices are made within established limits: the sacrificial animals the Israelites chose had to meet specific criteria (Ex 12:5; cf. Dt 1:13; Jos 3:12). Sometimes the choice that is urged on one is clear and vital. Israel was urged to follow God and so choose life rather than death (Dt 30:19). The Old Testament often returns to this theme. God's people are encouraged to choose what pleases the Lord (Isa 56:4; 65:12; 66:4) and fear of the Lord (Pr 1:29), not false gods (Jdg 10:14). Often the choices to be made are moral. Israel was to (in the words of the prophecy regarding the virgin's son) "reject the wrong and choose the right" (Isa 7:15-16). And the psalmist chose the way of truth (Ps 119:30), committing himself to keep God's precepts (Ps 119:173).
It is clear from this brief survey that the Old Testament treats the community of Israel and individuals within it as able to make spiritually significant choices. God established criteria to guide choices. And he laid out the pathway his people were to select. But the choice of what God had provided and the responsibility for the choice made remained with the nation and its members.
Human beings are shown in the New Testament as making choices. The church chose Stephen to be a church officer (Ac 6:5; cf 15:22). Companions were chosen for a missionary journey (Ac 15:40). Yet even more than the Old Testament, the New Testament focuses our attention on the choices of God. It is God's choices that the writers of the NewTestament are concerned with, and their use of these words consistently affirms God's freedom to act and affirms as well the grace that motivates his actions.
Choose life on the King's highway:
Deuteronomy 30:19...This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.
Numbers 20:17...Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the king's highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.
Let God be your guide:
Psalms 48:14...For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.
Luke 1:79...To shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.
John 16:13...But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
Let God lead you...no one but God:
Psalms 23:2-3...He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Exodus 23:2...Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd.
3John 11...Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.
Follow Jesus, for you know His voice:
John 10:3-4...The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
1Peter 2:21...To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
2Samuel 22:29...You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light.
Psalms 25:9...He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.
Leave your desires and choose His:
2Timothy 2:22...Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
1Timothy 6:11-12...But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1Corinthians 14:1...Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
Romans 14:19...Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
Remember, your choices are always obvious to everyone:
1Timothy 5:24-25...The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.
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