Choices

The society that we live in offers an abundance of choices — at times, too many to take in. I find big-box stores to be overwhelming to enter, with their cavernous ceilings and seemingly endless rows of goods piled high. Finding what I want can be daunting, and I usually end up in the work boots aisle when I am tracking down the bin of lettuce! I prefer smaller establishments where I know how to find things, or where a kind clerk can escort me to the right shelf. There might be fewer brand choices, but I save time in looking for them.

The choices that I make in my faith journey are more profound than ones made while shopping, of course. But Jesus made the greatest choice of all, when He decided to do God's will and lay down His life in order to sanctify you and me — if we accept Him.

Hebrews 10:8-10 – First, Christ said, "You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them" (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he said, "Look, I have come to do your will." He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God's will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. (NLT)

Throughout His ministry on earth, Jesus declared His desire to follow God's will. His ultimate decision to obey God was in the Garden of Gethsemane in choosing death on the cross. This sacrifice was planned before our world was created, but it was still Jesus' choice to submit to death, at the time set before time began. It was all for us, all chosen so that we could be His children, sanctified and saved through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ. The animal sacrifices repeated over and over in the old covenant only covered sin, but Jesus, the perfect sacrifice of the new covenant, removes our sin, once and for all.

What choice will we make today? Will we keep trying to make ourselves holy and acceptable to God through our own efforts, knowing that our human failings will drag us down again and again? Or will we lift our eyes to Jesus, Who chose to offer Himself willingly on the cross so that He could obey God's will and open the doors of heaven to us? Let's seek the Chosen One and know that He loves and forgives us, once and for always.

Prayer: Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace (H.H. Lemmel). Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the choice that You made for me, and now, I choose You. Amen.