Decisions can be tough. That is why I try not to judge people according to their snack choices. We’ve all been there. Standing in the pantry staring at the options–undecided for way too long. Even if someone doesn’t go with chocolate I try not to judge, but let’s face it; I don’t get them at all. You say potato chip. I say Butterfinger! I also try not to judge according to the sandwich choices people make at Subway. But seriously, what’s wrong with someone who picks any bread but honey oat? Don’t they know honey oat is like the Butterfinger of breads?
Okay, I do realize there are bigger and more urgent issues than snacks.
People make less than perfect choices on a consistent basis.
But, that’s not unique to our age. The Apostle Paul also lived in a time when dishonoring God was the choice du jour for most. Just as they do now, people then chose to rebel and chase after pleasure instead of following the Father. Paul’s instruction to them is the same for us today: Decide to give Him everything.
“Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship,” (Romans 12:1, HCSB).
Presenting our bodies and becoming a living sacrifice is a choice.
We decide to please the Father-or not-with every move we make and with every thought we think.
Everything we have, body and soul, physical and spiritual, must be surrendered to Him if we want to live in victory. Every time we submit, we choose to feed our spirits in a way that readies us for life as He designed us to live it. Isn’t the freedom we find in surrendering to Him that way amazing?
Submission begins in our minds-that seed-spot of every decision.
The next verse in Romans 12 says, “Do not be conformed to this age but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God,” (HCSB).
We’re just plain foolish when we expect our minds, the birthplace of our decisions, to spontaneously make the right moves in its natural state.
A few chapters later in the book of Romans, Paul addresses the unrenewed vs. the renewed mind. “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit,” (Romans 8:5, ESV).
A mind set on the things of the flesh is one that makes decisions based on selfish wants and desires.
The renewed mind is bent on making every choice to please the Father, even at the sacrifice of the body.
And the reward of making the right choice? Life! Even peace!
“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace,” (Romans 8:6, ESV).
These truly are “life and death” kinds of decisions and worthy of lengthy, deliberate consideration–much more so than potato chips vs. Butterfingers–but, I’ll still go with the Butterfinger every time. 😉
Rhonda Rhea is the author of 12 books, including Join the Insanity: Crazy-Fun Life in the Pastors’ Wives Club. Her book, Fix-Her-Upper: Hope and Laughter through a God Renovated Life, is co-authored with Beth Duewel and Rhonda also co-authors fiction with her daughter, Kaley Rhea. Kaley and Rhonda’s Christian romantic comedy, Turtles in the Road, is a hilarious favorite. Rhonda is a humor columnist for many publications and is a TV personality for Christian Television Network. She speaks at conferences and events coast to coast and happily makes her home in the St. Louis area with her husband, Richie Rhea, senior pastor of Troy First Baptist Church. They have five grown children and two grandbabies.
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