Faithful Decisions – Part 2
By Margaret D. Mitchell
Week of May 23, 2021
On this Pentecost Sunday, I am reminded of the early church, who sought Jesus in Heaven and received an outpouring of the Holy Spirit to empower them to go and reach others for Christ (Acts 2).
The decision to receive the gracious redemption Jesus offers us as Lord and Savior is a new beginning that extends to subsequent decision-making.
Because redemption is intrinsic to the nature of Christ.
This very nature of redemption draws us to do things His way—the way that offers, brings, and gives true life (John 14:6).
Prioritizing The Spirit of Grace first in our lives invites Him to guide, protect and lead us into all truth for this redeemed, abundant life.
As followers of Christ, we have His living hope that does not fail us (1 Tim 4:10).
Our decisions are seeds that grow to be established over time. Our Lord gives us this freedom to plant seeds of faith-righteousness that are aligned with God’s will, to reap what proves victorious in His eyes.
1 Corinthians 15:57-58 NIV say, "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
One of our Lord’s most beautiful promises for our efforts can be found in:
John 3:21 AMPC, which says, "But he who practices truth [who does what is right] comes out into the Light; so that his works may be plainly shown to be what they are–wrought with God [divinely prompted, done with God's help, in dependence upon Him]."
Pleasing God and bringing Him glory as we go and share His good news is our ultimate goal. But the prophet Isaiah reminds us that we are always on God’s mind, and He never forgets to bless us.
He says in Isaiah 26:12 TPT, "Lord, Yahweh, You will establish peace and prosperity for us, for all we have accomplished is the result of what you work through us."
Here and again throughout Holy Scripture, our Lord reveals that He releases His best to His yielded ones.
Making decisions that do not align with God’s will reveals our unbelief of His Word and our unbelief in our true identity in Christ due to a lack of trust in Him to provide for all our needs.
How can we possibly receive God’s finest blessings with such an impoverished mindset?
We can’t.
Our minds need to be renewed like Christ’s, and we need to walk out His truth by faith in His living promises.
Perhaps one of the best Bible examples of getting it wrong before getting it right, at least in part, is Jonah.
Jonah’s decisions from his strong will and reluctant obedience caused him a lot of unnecessary pain and nearly cost him his life. And even after Jonah completed his mission, he remained pouting in his self-justification, which is a sign of immature character.
I love what the New Spirit-Filled Life Bible notes say to counter Jonah’s example. They say:
Transforming faith…is more than just knowledge about God. It changes us and molds us into the image of the One in whom we place our trust, and it is expressed through our actions and our attitudes. Let your faith in who God transform who you are. Pray and ask the Lord to conform you into his image. Respond to God’s instruction with a willing heart that is open to change. By faith, receive the Lord’s instruction, and allow it to change the way you think, feel and behave.
So, like Jonah, when we cry unto the Lord in our troubles, He will deliver us from our distress by His mercy. He will send His Word and heal us and rescue us from the pit of destruction (Ps 107:19-20).
Proverbs 28:13 TPT says that "If you cover up your sin you’ll never do well. But if you confess your sins and forsake them, you will be kissed by mercy."
Friends, we must come to an understanding that the perfect justice of the sacrificial blood of Jesus is enough to redeem our lives from ungodly choices (Romans 3:25 TPT). His Word and Holy Spirit are enough to guide us into living higher, as we turn to Him and commit our lives to Him (Ps 37:5-6).
Faithfulness is our friend (Ps 37:3). Our Lord Jesus faithfully completed His work on the cross to redeem the lives of as many as who will receive His grace. In honor of Him, let’s make faithful decisions that align with His will and invite His blessed redemption into our everyday lives for His glory.
Pray with me if you will…
Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your mercy and grace of redemption that makes a way of a blessed life for me. I believe Your Son’s sacred and sacrificial blood redeems my life. I repent of all my sins and gratefully receive You as my Lord and Savior over all of my life. As You search my heart, if there is anything specific I need to lay at the foot of Your cross today, I invite You to bring the conviction that leads me to repentance. Help me to live out all the victory of redemption You have for me—spirit, soul, and body. Help me make faithful decisions forward that bring honor and glory to Your Name as You transform me into Your likeness. Thank You for Your mercy and grace.
In Jesus’ Mighty Name.
Amen.
Margaret D. Mitchell is the Founder of God's Love at Work, a marketplace outreach purposed to share God's greatest power source - the love of Christ.
