Choices
So I've been realizing lately how everything we do is OUR choice. (Perhaps I've been realizing it because its only come up like a million times in the last few days.) But really. I mean, I know that I always come up with excuses for things. If theres something I didn't do, I justify it. (and I'm not saying that not everything isn't justifiable, because I don't think thats the truth.--yes I do realize I have a double negative...just pretend you're reading it in Spanish and it'll all be alright.) But lets say I'm late for work in the kitchen (as I was this morning). Why was I late? Because I CHOSE to push snooze on my alarm when I knew that I needed more than 8 min to get read. It was my choice. And something else I've realized is that these choices that I make are usually ALL ABOUT MYSELF. In the case this morning, it was because I wanted to sleep some more. Yep, thats it. It was because I thought thats what I needed. Another example: I've chose to do other things than spend time with God. I've chose to go to bed (after being online for an hour or so) rather than read His Word. I've chose to do many other things during my afternoon break rather than spend time with Him. I've chose to spend time pondering on things that don't matter rather than praying to the only One who does matter. All of these I've chosen because at the time, thats what I thought was best for me.
Heres the question that echos in my head: Did Jesus not think it would be better for Him to not die on a cross? (yes, another double negative) Because He had the choice. He could have chose to think about Himself and decided to not go through all of the pain, shame, embarrassment, torcher, and suffering and just told God no, He didn't want to do it. He could have easily done that. But He didn't. He chose to think about me and every other person. The Son of God put aside Himself to focus on those in need, those who were dying. He knew that what He thought was not what was best. So what did He do about it? He did what He knew God wanted. He made that choice.
So what am I going to do? What choice am I going to make? I know that right now, I need need need to go dig into God's Word (my heart is dry). What choices am I going to make? Every choice we make affects who we are and who we are becoming. What kind of person do I want to be? I need to remember that I don't know whats best for me. Isaiah 55:9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
posted by Emilee Shake @ 12:18 AM
2 Comments:
Ironic, kind of, but I've been listening to this song all day (Sometimes Love by Chris Rice) and this one phrase kept jumping out at me every time I listened to it, "Cause he knew the price that love requires, and he laid down his own desires. He stretched out his hands to save his friends and said no other love is higher." I feel Jesus almost definately had a part of himself telling him it would be better for him to stay here. Part of him, the part that belonged to this world, desired very much to stay alive. There would have been tons of great excuses. "If I stay, I could heal so many more people." or "The disciples still have such little faith. They need me to teach and guide them." and so on... but all these resons were, in the end, about serving himself and not truly about serving others or God. Fortunately, he abandoned all selfishness, "laid down his own desires" and sacraficed everything for us... who deserved absolutely nothing! (a fact which still makes my spine tingle)
But listen, as an old acomplished pro at self-serving thinking and behavior I know what complete selfishness looks like (it strongly resembles Josh Murphy, actually), so I can reasure you right now, you are honestly one of the least selfish people I know :)
(I actually HAVE spent a lot of time and energy recently, thinking about this very thing. So if you're ever in the mood for one of my meandering, theological discussions, I'm always up for it!)
Later Emilee! Have a good un'!
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