Choices

 1 Kings 3; 2 Chronicles 1; Psalms. 78; 2 Thessalonians 2

“The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned back on the day of battle; they did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his law…How often they rebelled against him in the desert and grieved him in the wasteland! Again and again they put God to the test; they vexed the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember his power…”

Psalm 78:9, 10, 40-42

We, too, can know the blessing of a covenant with God and the faithfulness of his promises, yet still turn back from the spiritual battles in our lives, families, and Church. We, too, can rebel against God in the tests he allows in our lives, and instead, put God to the test. We, too, can vex God, anger him with our sin choices, rebellion, and fear-filled disobedience. Israel’s story can be our story. Or, we can acknowledge our tendency toward all these sinful behaviors and humble ourselves before God each day. We can ask God to daily empower us with his Holy Spirit so we can resist temptation and sin strongholds with the authority of Christ Jesus and his Word. The choice is ours.

“Father God, I desire to be a reliable servant of yours, filled with your Spirit and Word, for your glory.”