Choices

Ephesians 5:15-16 says, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Circumspectly is a big word that does not get used much these days. It means “accurately, precisely, with great care.” And fool in the Bible does not refer to intellectual limitations but to an unbelief in God–or at least inattention to what God says–and the behavior that results. So what does this have to do with choices? This: to do something accurately and precisely requires thought and planning–it requires a strategy. And a strategy involves choices.

So what can we do? The Bible gives us instructions. Here are eight helpful ones:

1. Put off the old and put on the new – see Ephesians 4:22-24
2. Capture your thoughts – see 2 Corinthians 10:5
3. Cast off the works of darkness – see Romans 13:12
4. Lay apart all filthiness – see James 1:21-22
5. Deny ungodliness – see Titus 2:12
6. Flee youthful lusts – see 2 Timothy 2:22 and 1 Timothy 6:11
7. Abstain from the appearance of evil – see 1 Thessalonians 5:22
8. Study – see 2 Timothy 2:15

What do all of these have in common? They are all verbs. They all require action. In other words, they all come about as the result of choices we make. Each of the eight actions listed above requires action, and we must make the choice–either one way or the other. We can choose to do what the Bible says we should do or we can choose to do our own thing, do what’s popular, do what feels food, do what feeds our own lusts and desires.

1 Thessalonians 4:7 says that God has not called us to uncleanness but to holiness. In verse 4 of that same chapter it says that we should know how to possess our vessel (our body) in honor.

We know what the Lord’s will is. Or, if we do not know, we have access to knowing, because it is contained in the Scripture. However, God has given each of us a free will to choose–and the choice is up to us. Ultimately, no one else can make the choice for us. The victory over sin has already been won; we can experience victory when we yield to the Spirit’s working in our lives and make the choose to do what God wants and instructs us to do.

What choice will you make?