I remember the day I made a choice that changed my life. It was in a small hired hall in Bridge Street, Hereford one hot August evening I heard the Gospel and answered the challenge “Will you give your life to Jesus?” I did! That night I became a Christian. It was a choice that changed my life.
Some months later I was faced with another choice. It was a call to service. The preacher preached from Joshua 24. They were a new generation. Their ‘fathers’ had seen the mighty acts of God in delivering them from Egypt. They were ‘saved’ and were now challenged to ‘serve’. When I stood in response to the challenge that day, I had no idea where such a choice would lead me. It was a case of “Across the street or across the sea, Lord here I am use me!” Not many years later it did take me ‘across the sea’. It took me on a journey of faith and complete trust in God.
It was a life-changing choice for the great crowd that gathered before Joshua that day so many years ago at Shechem. They were actually in the land that God had promised them; their inheritance. But there were more battles to fight, more barriers to remove, and more trials to overcome. To enter into their full inheritance, it was essential for them to make this life-changing choice as individuals; to commit themselves and their families to God and to each other.
Paul’s appeal to the Philippi church: “Are you strong because you belong to Christ? Does His love comfort you? Do you have joy by being as one in sharing the Holy Spirit? Do you have loving-kindness and pity for each other? Then give me true joy by thinking the same thoughts. Keep having the same love. Be as one in thoughts and actions. Nothing should be done because of pride or thinking about yourself. Think of other people as more important than yourself. Do not always be thinking about your own plans only. Be happy to know what other people are doing. Think as Christ Jesus thought” Phil. 2:1-5. (NLV)
Responding with all our hearts to that appeal can be a fellowship life-changing choice.
Blessings on our God-directed choices.
Eddie.