Some choices are difficult to make.  We know that choices have consequences, so we are tempted to think that if we don’t make choices we won’t have to face the consequence.  Life doesn’t work that way.  We are all faced with a choice that needs to be made.  This choice will determine our future for all of eternity.

We must make the choice to love God or to love the world.

The Bible discusses the choice of loving the world vs. loving God.

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.  For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.  And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. (1 John 2:15-17 NLT)

Too often we want to divide our loyalties between God and the world.  We want to love both God and the world.

Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.  (James 4:8 NLT)

The Bible tells us that we can’t love both God and the world.

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. (Matthew 6:24 NLT)

Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.  (James 4:4 NLT)

Divided loyalties are repulsive to God.

“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!  But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! (Revelation 3:15-16 NLT)

Divided loyalties do not work.

…. choose today whom you will serve. ….  (Joshua 24:15 NLT)

Are you going to love God or are you going to love the world?

“…. choose today whom you will serve.
…. But as for me and my family, we will serve  the Lord.”
(Joshua 24:15 NLT)

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“It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor”

– President George Washington

“I believe with all my heart that standing up for America means standing up for the God who has so blessed our land. We need God’s help to guide our nation through stormy seas. But we can’t expect Him to protect America in a crisis if we just leave Him over on the shelf in our day-to-day living.”

– Ronald Reagan

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD … (Psalm 33:12 ESV)

Enjoy your 4^th of July Holiday.

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The Bible tells us that we are free to make our own choices.

 …. choose today whom you will serve. …. (Joshua 24:15 NLT)

 “Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse! (Deuteronomy 11:26 NLT)

 We are free to make our own choices, but remember, choices have consequences.

 You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today. But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the Lord your God and turn away from him and worship gods you have not known before.  (Deuteronomy 11:27-28 NLT)

Blessings or curses.  What will it be?

 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! (Deuteronomy 30:19NLT)

What choices do you need to make to receive God’s blessings?

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul. (Deuteronomy 10:12 NLT)

Fear the Lord your God.

Live in a way that pleases God.  (Do what God says.)

Love God and serve Him with all your heart and soul.

Serve only the Lord your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him.  (Deuteronomy 13:4 NLT)

Serve only the Lord your God.

Fear Him (God) alone.

Obey God’s commands.

Listen to God’s voice.

Cling to God.

Doing what God requires is for your own good.

And you must always obey the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good. (Deuteronomy 10: 13 NLT)

Are your choices leading to life or are your choices leading to death?

You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today. But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the Lord your God ….  (Deuteronomy 11:27-28 NLT)

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How many times have you heard the expression, “I guarantee it” or “Try it, you’ll like it”.

For many of us, these phrases have been so over used that we tend to ignore them.

If you are not currently experiencing God’s goodness, there is a phrase I would like for you to take seriously.

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!

Give the Lord a chance to show you how good he is.

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!  Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!  … those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. (Psalm 34:8-10 ESV)

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.  (Isaiah 40:31 NLT)

If you are not experiencing God’s goodness, spend time reading your Bible on a daily basis.  Tune in to what God is saying to you.  The more you read the scriptures, the better you will know God.  As your relationship with the Lord matures, you will experience more of His goodness.  Try it.  You’ll like it. I guarantee it. 

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.  (Jeremiah 29:13 NLT)

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I recently enjoyed eating blackberries that I picked off blackberry bushes that are growing in our backyard.  Several years ago I planted two blackberry bushes.   I didn’t make the bushes (seeds). God was the one who made the blackberry plants.

Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.  (Genesis 1:29 NLT)

I didn’t make the bushes grow.  God is the one who caused these blackberry bushes to grow.

You (God) cause grass to grow for the livestock
    and plants for people to use.
You (God) allow them to produce food from the earth— (Psalm 104:14 NLT)

All I did was plant two small blackberry bushes.

Good things can happen when we plant seeds (or in some cases transplant small plants).

The Bible talks about planting another kind of seed.  In Mark chapter 4 there is the Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed.

The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others.  (Mark 4:14 NLT)

Christians are told to plant seeds.  In the Bible, Christians are told to take God’s word to others.

And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach (proclaim or tell) the Good News to everyone. (Mark 16:15 NLT)

Jesus is with those who tell others about Him.

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 NLT)

The power comes from God.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  (Acts 1:8 NLT)

God equips Christians for doing His will.

Now may the God of peace…. equip you with all you need for doing his will. (Hebrews 13:20-21NLT)

God makes the seed grow.

I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.  It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.   (1 Corinthians 3:6-9NLT)

Christians are asked to plant seeds by sharing the Gospel with others.  God does the rest.

For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up.  (John 6:44 NLT)

Have you planted any seeds recently?  

“Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.  But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33 NLT)

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Remember

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for everyone who has died serving in the American armed forces.

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  (John 15:13 NLT)

Today and throughout the year we ought to remember those who placed themselves in harm’s way to protect our freedom.

Remember

Today and throughout the year we should also remember someone else who willingly died for us.

Jesus Christ died for us so that we could have a rich and satisfying life.

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.  (John 10:10 NLT)

Jesus Christ died for us to free us from the grasp of sin and allow us to live for what is right.

He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.  By his wounds you are healed. (1 Peter 2:24 NLT)

Jesus Christ died for us so that we can spend eternity with Him in heaven.

Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.  (1 Thessalonians 5:10 NLT)

So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.  (John 8:36 NLT)

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Why is America turning it back on Christianity? Why are Christians in America becoming the bad guys?  Why is a nation that was founded on Biblical principles banning the Bible and prayer from their public schools? Why are there so many individuals who hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and “just don’t get it”?

Many people have been exposed to the gospel and simply do not understand what it is all about.

Why is this true?

Scripture tells us several reasons why people can’t understand the gospel.  One of the reasons is that their eyes are blinded and their hearts are hardened.

Many people are blinded to the truth of the Gospel.

 “The Lord has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts—
so that their eyes cannot see,
and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
and have me heal them.” (John 12:40 NLT)

Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT)

Many people are spiritually dead.

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. (Ephesians 2:1 NLT)

An individual who is spiritually dead is unable to do anything to change or correct his separation from God.  Left on his own, he will continue living in sin.

Individuals who are spiritually dead, with blinded eyes and hardened hearts, will hate Christians.

“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.  The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.  (John 15:18-19 NLT)

What is the solution to this problem?  What can we do for the person who is spiritually dead with blinded eyes and a hardened heart?

There is only one answer.

Prayer

We can pray to God and ask Him to draw that individual to himself.  We can ask God to change the heart of the individual we are praying for.

For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me … (John 6:44 NLT)

A person will have no desire to become a Christian unless God changes his or her heart.

In addition to praying for individuals, Christians can and should also be praying for God to bring a spiritual revival to America.

 … May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.  (Colossians 1:12-14 NLT)

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If you have a genuine desire to become a Christian, is there anything that would make this desire impossible?

If you recognize the fact that your sins are separating you from God and you understand that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins, is there anything that would make it impossible for you to repent of your sins and receive the free gift of salvation.

NO

The Bible says:

But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ (Acts 2:21 NLT)

For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  (Romans 10:13 NLT)

The Bible also says:

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.  (Jeremiah 29:13 NLT)

 Don’t give up.

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8 NLT)

How will you respond?

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.  (Romans 10:9-10 NLT)

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I repeatedly hear people talk about their hectic schedules.  Many people are constantly “going” from the time they get up early in the morning until they drop into bed late at night.

We all need to “stop and smell the roses”.

Scripture says, “Be still, and know that I am God!”

“Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”  (Psalm 46:10 NLT)

 Take time to reflect on your relationship with God.

My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth!  (Psalm 121:1 NLT)

Get to know God better by meditating on His Word, the Bible.

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.  (Joshua 1:8 NLT)

Take time today to enjoy God’s creation.  Spend time today with God.  Get to know God better.

Enjoy the creation, but more importantly worship the creator.

“Be still, and know that I am God!
” (Psalm 46:10 NLT)

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Abraham was declared righteous by God because of his faith.

And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.  (Romans 4:22 NLT)

 Abraham had a right relationship with God because of his faith, not because of anything he had done.

We too can have a right relationship with God because of our faith.  We cannot earn our salvation and we certainly do not deserve salvation.  It is a gift from God.

 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. (Ephesians 2:8 NLT)

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  (Romans 10:9 NLT)

Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. (Ephesians 2:9 NLT)

Are you experiencing the joy that comes from a right relationship with God?

“Oh, what joy for those
    whose disobedience is forgiven,
    whose sins are put out of sight.
Yes, what joy for those
    whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”
(Romans 4:7-8 NLT)

You may also want to read “Whoever Believes”.

It is a great blessing when the Lord accepts people   as if they are without sin!”
(Romans 4:8 ERV)

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