Which Way?

   “Which Way” is a crossroad that comes in every believer’s life and we must all make the decision of which way we will go in our Christian walk. There are two ways to go on this crossroad, “God’s Way” and “Your Way” (also known as “My Way”.) I Samuel 8:10-20 tells of the Israelites demanding an earthly king over the one, true King. They knew of the greatness of God and all the blessings he had bestowed upon them as a nation, and even after they were told the consequences of having an earthly king, they still wanted to go their way. Like the Israelites, we have been taught what was right and wrong; we also have the ability to read for ourselves in the Word of God what is right and wrong. There is, however, a rebellious spirit that can linger within us despite this knowledge of good and evil. We use Christ, our church, fellow believers, and sometimes our families as “crutches” till we “grow up” and can “make our own decisions.” What we are forgetting is that God didn’t make us robots; even little children have a will within them and are judged according to their will (not their parent’s, not their pastor’s, not even God’s.) Proverbs 20:11, “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.” The Lord gives a choice to those who are unsaved, whether or not to accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour, likewise he gives believers a choice – will you serve the God that cleansed your sin and saved your soul from Hell, or not? In the scriptures, the Lord shows us how to follow him, if we want to. Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” II Timothy 2:15-16, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” He also gives us the opposite of following him in II Timothy 3:1-5, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:…” To finish the verse, he advises us, “… from such turn away.” The Lord won’t make you do his will, but he does want you to, of your own will, accept him as your guide and shepherd. You need to follow Christ’s steps as it says in I Peter 2:21, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:” Then let the Lord show you his perfect path. Proverbs 16:9, “A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” God has provided the example of Christ for us to replicate if we so desire, but WE have to make the decision to take that path! Job is a prime example of one that believed in God and was given the chance (circumstances and all) to “curse God, and die”, as his wife put it in Job 2:9. Job decided not to; he decided to do right no matter what. The Lord gave the Devil full reign of Job’s life and the Devil destroyed everything he owned and loved, yet Job kept his mouth shut, he would NOT curse God! God may be giving you such a chance, as he gave Job, to stand for the truth – to do what is right. Are you going to make the same choice as Job, or are you going to go “Your Way”? There is a saying, “There are only two choices on the shelf, pleasing God or pleasing self.” You need to ask yourself: Do I want to go God’s Way or My Way; who do I want to please? You must choose to go one way; you must take one of these paths; you can only serve one master - God or You. Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” The Devil ruined Job’s life temporarily, yet he made stronger Job’s decision to not curse God. Don’t let the Devil’s ways seep into your life and destroy your testimony for Christ, rather let the Devil, his ways and ideas be what pushes you to go God’s Way! Which way are you going to take – “Your Way” or “God’s Way”? You have to decide for yourself which path YOU are going to take, so DECIDE!

Closer To Christ

 How can we help others get Closer to Christ? This is the question I have for you, believer. When you got saved, you took on the responsibility of the Ministry of Reconciliation. The Ministry of Reconciliation is bringing others Closer to Christ, whether they are lost or saved. Most of the time, we don't act like Christians:

• We don't witness like we should.
• We don't encourage each other in the faith like we should.
• We forget about our fellow believers possibly falling into sin.
• We fall into apostasy and sin ourselves.

All the while, we are interested in only ourselves and how we can look good compared to everyone else. Wake Up, Believer! It is time to actively start your Ministry of Reconciliation. It is time to bring people Closer to Christ!

   There are countless unsaved souls that need to be shown how to get saved. Will you show them how to get Closer to Christ?

   There are many, who are saved, that have left God behind to chase after the world. These believers need to be shown that God is willing to receive them and help them get Closer to Christ.

   There are still others who are saved that are playing the "Christian Game." They need to be shown why they should continue being a Christian, and to let God use them in a miraculous way. Closer to Christ IS the place to be!

   Last, but not least, there is you. You need to be carefu not to fall into the sin of self-righteousness (or any other sin for that matter). Give God the glory. Get Closer to Christ.

   Please join me in the Ministry of Reconciliation and start serving the Lord Jesus Christ today!

"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." -  Romans 16:24