One summer when I was in elementary school, some of the neighborhood kids built a fort out of scrap wood. Precariously balanced on the ground, it consisted of three levels with enough room for two small bodies on each level. My dad, upon seeing their creation, promptly prohibited me from climbing in it as he was convinced it was an accident waiting to happen. Dismayed, I obeyed. Dad knew that I had been ignoring the rusty protruding nails and splitting swaybacked boards, for I had been focused on what looked like fun. But the fort wasn’t built to last.
On any given day, we have a multitude of things clamoring for our attention. From the mundane to the monumental, life is a series of choices. It’s easy to respond to whatever conveniently crosses our path, commands our attention, or seems most pleasurable, but Scripture reminds us to be exceedingly deliberate. Philippians 1:10 says, “I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives.”
Writing to the Corinthian church, Paul taught that there is no other foundation than Jesus, because salvation comes only by accepting His life in exchange for ours. But Paul goes on to clarify that salvation is the foundation (beginning point) of our lives—and what we build from there depends on the choices we make each day.
We can be saved but choose to spend our lives in fruitless activity (1 Corinthians 3:15). On the other hand, we can understand our salvation to such a depth that every moment becomes an offering given back to God. Our works will not be tested by their appearances, our level of enjoyment, or others’ opinions. It’s the fire of God that will reveal if we have lived with this world or the next in mind.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 8:26-40
More:
Read Matthew 6:19-21 to see the connection between the investments we make in life and the condition of our hearts.
Next:
How can ordinary things become eternal investments? Why shouldn’t we base the significance of our investments on the attention they garner? (Matthew 6:4).
jstabel on October 19, 2011 at 1:42 am
King Hezekiah just recovered from the illness that was suppose to claim his life and the King of Babylon sent him a letter and a present,Hezekiah welcomed the emissaries and showed them his wealth,silver,gold…:”there was nothing in his house,nor in all his dominion,that Hezekiah showed them not”(Isaiah 39:1,2),this what what mattered to Hezekiah at the moment but God wanted to use Hezekiah’s recovery for His own glory but he did not know until he was reprimanded by the Prophet.Honestly we need God’s guidance to know the things that matters to God at our every decision junction,my prayers is that His will be done at all times and not ours.
josextabel on October 19, 2011 at 8:32 am
Our God has the knowledge that is beyond human reasoning. His ways of doing things are very strange to human mind. He has His own way of detecting counterfeit or genuine services. If the service you’re rendering to Him now is counterfeit, He knows how to measure it. If it’s for show, He knows. If you’re just an actor, when He puts your acting on the balance, it will go down.
winn collier on October 19, 2011 at 4:34 pm
“life is a series of choices.” thank you for this reminder.
sun15 on October 20, 2011 at 12:54 am
This is a great post.. thanks Regina. It reminds me again that receiving salvation is not the only task..I also have the responsibility to lead a life pleasing to God.
My choices in life after getting saved shows the actual measure of reverence I have for God after realizing His abundant love for me.