Life consists of choices. Early every morning I have to choose whether I’m going to get up or stay in bed. I have to decide whether I will start my day with God or not, and often life rushes by so quickly that life makes a choice on my behalf and I don’t get to God early in the morning.

When I set foot out of the door, the choices I have to make just become more and more important. Am I going to lose my temper in traffic? Am I going to make space for the person at work who is not doing his job and, therefore, now I have so much more to do?

Choices, choices, choices. Some are small choices, others bigger, which greatly impact on our lives. Choosing between a blue or black pair of socks isn’t really going to topple the apple cart, but whether I’m going to allow the other person to get closer to me could end up being catastrophic for my marriage.

When I was very young and we played Open the Gate or any other game, two captains were always chosen first. Then lots were drawn to determine which captain could choose the first member for his team.

Of course, the first captain picks the best player first. The second captain then gets a chance to pick the second-best player, and then the first captain can pick again. So, it went on until the last and weakest player also got a team.

Usually, this was me.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have a choice in whose team we were. The choice was made for you and you just had to make peace with whether you had to play in the A or the B team.

With God things work differently. You see, He has already chosen us. This choice already started with the plan to send Jesus to earth. The cross on Calvary is almost like a monument erected to show God’s choice.

God chooses you. He is so serious about choosing you, that He is willing to let His Son die, and give up His life, so that you can know: God is serious about His choice. He chooses me!

But unlike how we were left to the captains’ choices for our games as children, I have a choice whether I want to be part of God’s team. Yes, He chose me, but now it is my turn to accept the invitation.

This is surely the biggest choice we must make, whether we will play on God’s team or want to turn out for the world’s team instead. ⁴You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way.

I believe that you have chosen God. I also believe that you, like me, do not always live like people who know God. Let us try harder to leave our sinful ways outside. But at least we accepted God’s choice and also chose Him. May we now help others with their choice. Yes, let us live in a way that makes it easier for others to make the right choice.

Scripture
James 4:1-6

Reflection
Did you choose God?
Does your life bear witness to that?
Who can or should you help to make the choice too?

Prayer
Father, thank you that I have the privilege of choosing You. Help me not to choose the world. Help me to show the world exactly what it means to live a life that has chosen You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.