If we want to line up with Abram rather than with Lot, we’ve got to be people of the tent and the altar, pilgrims and worshipers, here to bear witness. n . ‣ Christians are not to be devoid of feelings. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— ... Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. Lot did something many American Christians do, usually without much thought: He made a major life decision based on the unchallenged assumption that pursuing prosperity should be the main goal in life. Growing Closer to Jesus. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. ‣ In verse 14, as Abram is standing there wondering if he did the right thing (and perhaps Sarah was asking him the same question), God tells him to lift up his eyes and look in every direction. There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. (Note, by the way, that even though Abram and Lot both had the freedom to choose, God’s sovereign purpose to give the land to Abram overruled their choices.) Q Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, ... Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. A girl decides to have a drink at a party, resulting in her letting down her inhibitions. How does a Christian find the right balance? God’s Word helps you make the right choices … It would not seem to matter much whether a drop of water goes to the left or to the right. As believers we are to live by faith in the promises of God. ... And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. ‣ And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. But not so with you. But with a physical decision that isn’t a matter of right and wrong, it is not bad to reassess the choice when necessary and adjust course. Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. B Or if we all shared how we met our mates, many of the stories would begin with seemingly insignificant decisions to attend some social event. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” It enabled Paul to be content with much or with little, because Christ was his sufficiency. P Verses discussing Man’s Responsibility and Culpability: 5. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. Perhaps as Abram was looking around, his eyes fell down to the dusty soil on which he was standing. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the things God provides us. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. Make the choice to honor God first, and you will be blessed - Mt 6:33 4. Abram lived in fellowship with God and became known as the friend of God. H Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. ... Joshua and his family were blessed because he made the right choices; even though he went through many battles, God was with him. He took off for the good life and left Abram literally in the dust, in dusty Canaan, where there had just been a severe famine. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. But, if we start thinking, “If I just had such and such, I would be happy,” or if we think that by getting so much in the bank, we will be secure from the trials of life, then we’ve shifted our trust from God to material things, and we are governed by greed. Y But many American Christians, like Lot, decide where they’re going to live based on finances, not on spiritual reasons. The force that is in the world—dominant, popular, and widespread—is contrary to God. “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.” God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Teacher Enrichment. Jesus was the friend of sinners, but He was never tainted by their sin because He put a premium on fellowship with the Father and He never sought the approval of the world. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up … As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. Examples of decision making in the Bible. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. Most of us want to seek the other things first and add the kingdom of God later in our spare time. I The apostle Paul described it, “as having nothing yet possessing all things” (2 Cor. First, we may judge ourselves by the manner in which we seek the things of this world. Another drop goes east until it flows into the Mississippi River and dumps into the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Lot chose by sight and ended up spiritually and financially bankrupt. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. We didn’t know whether we would ever see again what we left behind. We have seen how to grow in confidence in Christ, we have also seen examples of Bible characters who showed confidence in God. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com. Right and Wrong Isaiah 5:19-25 I. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, ... Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. He settled in Sodom and blended in with their corruption. We deny ungodliness and worldly desires in light of the blessed hope of Christ’s return (Titus 2:11-13), trusting that His promises concerning eternity are true. If the extra hours and the move will bring you more money, you need to ask, “Why do we want more money? So make your choices based on God’s principles: Relationships over rights; godliness over greed; fellowship with God over the world’s approval; and, faith in God’s promises over immediate pleasure from the world. It’s possible to gain the whole world and lose your soul. I’m giving it all.” But the reality is that God sends most of us to the bank and has us cash in the $1,000 for quarters. We tend to think of Christian commitment as a bold decision to forsake everything and follow Jesus. Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? 7 Bible Verses to Help You Find Direction Again When You've Gone Off Track. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Geocoding But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. So you have to ask, “Why did Abram remain untainted, but Lot became corrupted?”. The Panorama Fire was raging out of control in a canyon a few miles below our house. At 4 a.m. a neighbor whose husband was a volunteer fireman called and told us that we would be forced to evacuate our home at 7 a.m. My office was at home then, and we only had a Mustang with a top rack to carry everything we wanted to take from my office and for the four of us (Daniel wasn’t yet born). Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins. Publication date: Dec 30, 2020. S His family and many servants and their families would be affected by his decision. Is it necessarily wrong for Christians to desire a better lifestyle? A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. Where did we ever get the notion that wealth will solve our problems? Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. T Students will n. make choices and discover their consequences, n learn that if they ask, God forgives them when they sin, and. But it’s right there, in those little 25 cent choices, that our lives take their direction. Since seemingly small decisions can have such momentous consequences, how can we protect ourselves from making wrong choices? ... knowledge rather than choice gold, 11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies, How can we know whether we are under the influence of greed? Lot lived for greed and came up empty. Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. He lost his wife, barely escaped with his own life and his two daughters, and goes off the Old Testament page hiding in a cave where his daughters make him drunk and commit incest with him. Top 23 Bible Verses-Knowing Right from Wrong … How can we know right from wrong? The Search OF the Savior: Why Jesus Came, Part 2 (Gal. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. He never seemed to consider what verse 13 points out, the spiritual implications of moving his family to Sodom. And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. She breaks down what it does and does not say. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. He escaped Sodom with the clothes on his back and fades out living in a cave. Doing so can be a wise decision too. Those principles encompass the whole Bible and take a lifetime to learn thoroughly. The Bible also teaches that man is culpable for his choices. For example: no matter where you go, whether you are in New York City or you are with a tribe in the heart of Africa, everyone knows stealing is wrong. What happens when we make the wrong choices? After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. But be careful! He had left his family and friends in Ur to go with Abram to the promised land. The Lord Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you” (Matt. ‣ There is much more in life than the outward and material. You decide what is right or wrong 2. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. N God’s Word is clear that there are consequences either way. Depraved Thinking Leads to Bad Choices. The next time you are about to quarrel with someone (and quarrelling is a choice we make! But Abram graciously yielded his rights and trusted God to give him his portion. Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. Our entire being bears the scars of this sin profoundly. It helps you clarify the question, “What are we really living for?” Remember, the same thing that happened to all of Lot’s stuff when Sodom burned is going to happen to all your stuff when Christ judges the world. Top bible verses with pictures about Making Choices. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Proverbs 19:21 - [There are] many devices in a man's heart; Their increased wealth leads to increased strife because there simply wasn’t enough land for each of them, plus the Canaanites and the Perizzites (13:7). ‣ Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. Matthew 7:13-14 - Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: (Read More...) Proverbs 14:12 - There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death. We must make that once and for all commitment. Abram had a right to choose whatever land he wanted and let Lot take the leftovers. Your marriage and family b. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Labs Whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. Bible Verses About Choices Bible verses related to Choices from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance - Sort By Book Order . The job market is always changing b. Take Delight in Honoring Others Romans 12:10, NLT Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. A. But here Simeon is getting at the principle which enabled Job, when he lost all his worldly possessions, to say, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. And no sinner is capable of properly handling money unless he is constantly yielded to the Holy Spirit and is continually on guard against every form of greed. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, © The Lockman Foundation, Related Topics: Discipleship, Spiritual Life, Steve served as the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship from May, 1992 through his retirement in December, 2018. The answer is in verse 18: “Abram moved his tent and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.” We see again the two things that marked Abram’s life of obedient faith, the tent and the altar: Abram the pilgrim, just passing through; and, Abram the worshiper, bearing witness to a pagan world. 14:19). So the Lord says, “Do you see all that dust? And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. But the wonder of God's grace is that He allows us and even guides us back into the right path. OpenBible.info For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. First, both Lot and Abram have increased wealth (13:2, 5-6). ‣ W How do we determine where to draw the line when it comes to amassing possessions? We can procrastinate as long as possible, but eventually the time will come when a decision has to be made. By faith, Abram had already renounced everything visible and opted for the unseen promises of God. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. But the outcome of those drops of water is totally different. The Search OF the Savior: Why Jesus Came, Part 1 (Luke 19:1-10), Bible Storying Series - Teaching The Story Of God Chronologically. Your service to God 3. 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