We went on a Christmas tree hunt yesterday. It was the first
time for Danny and I to walk through a field of trees in search of the perfect
one. It was hard. Our 6 year old grandson said he didn’t like it because there
were so many choices. He said you pick one and then you see another one. You
think you make the right choice and then you change your mind. He really did
like it, but I understand. As a first timer I found that they all looked
beautiful. But upon closer inspection there were flaws that didn’t meet our
standards. We didn’t even know we had standards until we were met with the
choices. Acres and acres of trees and still we wanted to look farther. After the tree was cut we took it to the tree
farmer who placed it on a shaking platform to get all the dead needles and
debris out of the tree. That machine looked like it would tear the tree up, but
it made it look much better. We were glad we didn’t take all the loose material
home with us to shake out on our floor.
Blake was right – it was hard to make the final choice and
stick with it. We did have a great time, but we laughed about the commitment to
the tree – was it the right one? Didn’t we like the one on row 25 on the
furthest acreage? On and on we all laughed.
We are a country full of people who have relished the many
choices we have. Unlike other countries that have very little choices, we can
even linger in decision making when it comes to simple things like the many brands
and styles of cheeses, paper towels and band-aids. Simple things have become more
complicated because of the choices.
Yet in spite of all these choices we still have a hard time
making the commitment to live with our selection. We are rich indeed in the fact that we can
make our own choices about everything from Christmas trees to vocation. And yet
for all our choices we still have a hard time making commitments to the
choices. Satan knows our weakness so he subtly comes in with “a better idea” or
gives us little hints of discontent in what we have. He’ll even send people
into our lives to prove that we could have something better. We find ourselves
either coveting another’s life or wishing our own perfectly good life away. We
long to enter the field of choices and change what we have.
Just like looking at Christmas trees, we have to give our
wants and wishes a thorough examination. What might appear as a great tree
could have a very crooked trunk or a bad side without many limbs. So too we
must look thoroughly at what our eyes relish to make sure we don’t end up with
something we never really wanted in the first place.
The only way a believer can make the right choice, the
absolutely perfect choice in God’s estimation is to take everything to prayer
and filter it through the shaking of the Word. Unless we are willing to give
God the final choice, to let Him choose the best things for our lives, we will
be destined to always look back and wonder if we could have done something
better. Without God’s guidance and
waiting for Him to answer our prayers with His best we are destined to live
without making a real commitment, even if we’ve made vows to complete what we
started.
Oh beloved, run to God’s Word this morning and read: all
that glitters isn’t gold and all that looks bright and promising isn’t always a
good thing. But God speaks to our hearts and He always speaks the best things.
Trust Him. Wait on Him. Then make your vows before Him and complete your
commitments. Even when things look impossible or love grows cold or other
things look better – in the light of God’s love for you and your commitment to
Him first, you’ll find that what you already have is enough. You’ll also find
that He gives His finest to His own. He can be trusted to make the right
choices for you. Even when others make poor choices around you and you have to
live with their decisions and their lack of commitment, God is committed to you
always. He is so committed to your best and His glory that He will take care of
you even when things go wrong. You’ll never be a victim as long as you put your
trust in His choices. You can’t worry and wonder why when others make poor
choices concerning your life, but you can rest in God’s promises for you no
matter what.
Rejoice! Rejoice in your freedom to let God choose. Rejoice
in His wonderful plan for your life. Rejoice that a Savior has come to make all
things news and bless us with His marvelous plan of grace, faith and salvation.
God loves you and He’s for you and that’s worth letting Him guide you into His
wonderful choices for everything you will ever really need.
Proverbs 2:11 Wise choices will watch over you.
Understanding will keep you safe.
Jeremiah 39:18 Because you trusted Me, I will give you your
life as a reward. I will rescue you and keep you safe. I, the Lord, have spoken.
Ephesians 3:17 Then Christ will make His home in your hearts
as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you
strong.
Job 23:11 For I have stayed on God’s paths; I have followed
His ways and not turned aside.
Psalm 18:30 God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises
prove true. He is a shield for all who look to Him for protection.
