Choose you this day whom ye will serve…” (Josh. 24:15). Each day we all must make the choice of whom we will serve. It is a personal choice only you can make. Making no choice is still a choice. One of the greatest powers you possess is the power of free will and choice. Not even God will force you against your will. I often say, “Decisions determine directions and directions determine destinations.” Salvation is a one-time permanent act of God, but we must daily choose to serve God. The Devil cannot make you sin, and God cannot make you serve. You can control choices but not consequences. Once a choice is done it cannot be undone. It is important to make choices without regrets.
Choices are a process from your thought life. Your inward thoughts soon become outward actions. Actions soon become habits. Habits then become character. Character becomes you. It all starts with your inner thought life. The Bible teaches us to think and dwell upon certain positive things and do them. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true… honest… just… pure… lovely… of good report; if there be any virtue… praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do (practice): and (promise) the God of peace shall be with you” (Phil. 4:8-9). So daily we should think on these things and do those things. It is sad some think on opposite things and do them. (they reverse the verse) Finally brethren, whatsoever things are false, dishonest, unjust, impure, ugly, of bad report; if there be any vice… any pessimism think on these things. Those things which you have naturally learned, and received, and heard, and seen in others, do: and the godless life of strife, anxiety, stress, and division will be you.
Those who think of these things and do those things have a miserable life and also make others miserable. So the peace of God begins with right inner thinking on these things and doing outwardly of those things. It is natural to complain, but you must learn to be content (Phil. 4:11). My wife tells me, “When you have a pain don’t be one.”
Good News! You can only think one thought at a time so choose to think good thoughts and you will not think bad thoughts. Happiness is a choice. Don’t let life control you. You cannot change others, but you can change yourself. Well, what do you daily think about and do? Notice we have the peace of God (Phil. 4:7) as we think these things and the God of peace as we do those things (Phil. 4:9). There is no prescription for life. There is no substitute for the peace of God. It is the best life. It is not what happens to you but in you that makes the difference. God may not still your storms, but He can still you in the storm. So, “Choose you this day whom (not what) you will serve…” You will be glad you did and so will others!
Thought: There are five gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and You
