God Gives us the Ability to Choose

March 4, 2021

By Gwen Sass, Previous Associate Director of BUMC Kids

DAILY READING

Exodus 19; 1 Peter 2

Let’s go back to the beginning, back to the book of Genesis where God created all things from absolutely nothing! In God’s serene Garden of Eden, we find that He intentionally created Adam and Eve with the unique ability to make choices. From the beginning, God knew that giving people the ability to choose would create both difficulties and blessings. As we journey through life’s adventures, I believe that our choices, both good and bad, can help us see, feel and come to understand God’s goodness, faithfulness and grace.

I am always drawn to the amazing story of Moses and the Israelites. The book of Exodus tells of the long adventure from Egypt to the land God has promised. God shows His generosity, deep love and faithfulness to the Israelites even when they choose to doubt, grumble and disobey. In Exodus 19:5-6, three months after Pharaoh finally chooses to let the Israelites go, God gives the Israelites a choice:  “If you will obey me and keep your part of my contract with you, you shall be my own little flock from among all the nations of the earth. . .a kingdom of priests to God, a holy nation.” (TLB) The Israelites eagerly choose obedience to God!

We face countless choices each day; everything from what we eat and how we dress to how we interact with people around us. God loves us with a huge, powerful, grace-filled love! Will we choose to love Him back? Will we choose to follow Jesus’ example? Will we choose to worship our Creator? Will we choose to respond in love or will we choose to react without thinking when we encounter people and struggles around us? 

1 Peter 2:6 says, “I am sending Christ to be the carefully chosen, precious Cornerstone of my church, and I will never disappoint those who trust in Him.” (TLB) The words and actions of Jesus give us perfect examples of how we can choose to live our lives. Jesus showed us how to listen and pray to God, how to respond in love to people, how to point others to God, how to forgive those who hurt us. Jesus chose to obey God’s plan, even to the point of suffering, death and resurrection. Even during Jesus’ final horrific hours on Earth, He chose to keep His eyes fixed on God. Jesus’ deep love for people, as well as His death and resurrection create an invitation to THE most important choice in our lives. We can either choose to believe in Jesus as God’s Son and have eternal life after death OR we can choose not to believe. God wants us to choose Jesus, but He gives us the ability to choose for ourselves. What will be your choice?