Options – Stephen Trammell

Consider Your Options

“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 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Deut 30:19-20 (NIV) God demonstrates His love and security by giving us options to consider. God does not force us to love Him. Allowing us to choose or refuse Him, God presents us with opportunities to come to know Him by experience. Every human being is on a journey of discovery. Some will ignore God’s revelation and some will choose to come to know God personally through an abiding relationship with Jesus. Life and death are set before you. You have the freedom to choose the path that leads to life or you can choose the path that leads to death. Consider your options. If you choose life, then you are choosing to orient your life in alignment with God’s agenda. If you choose death, your path will be marked by rebellion against God and His plan for your life. Choose life so that you will fulfill the purpose for which God created you. Choose life so that the next generation can examine your life and be convinced to follow in your steps on the path of life. Choose life so that you may love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). Learn to listen to His voice and to practice instant obedience (John 10:27). Have you allowed Jesus to be your life? Consider your options. Now, choose life! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Options

“‘Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.’” Josh 24:14-15 (NIV) Before the foundation of the world, God chose you. However, God gives you options. You can choose Him or refuse Him. You can accept His offer of forgiveness through the shed blood of Jesus or reject His offer of forgiveness. You can receive the gift of eternal life by placing your faith in the completed work of Jesus on the cross or you can deny the gift of eternal life. You have options. That’s the power of God’s love. We are not robots. We are not plastic. We are real human beings with real feelings and real thoughts. We have the capacity to activate our will to choose a certain direction in life. There are many paths available to us, but they do not lead to life. There’s only one path that leads to life. “Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’” “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:5-6 (NIV) Jesus is the only way! Are you willing to choose Him? Joshua did not vacillate. He resolved to serve God. He took ownership for leading his family spiritually. He included his family in the commitment to serve the Lord. He lived out what he expected of his family. Yes, you have options. In fact, the enemy will place many attractive options before you. Don’t give in. Choose to surrender fully to Jesus and serve him wholeheartedly. “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12 (NIV) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care