Making Wise Choices

Every day we make choices. Some are relatively minor, such as "Do I wear the light blue or dark blue shirt today?" Others are much bigger like "Is it really safe and wise to pass this slow truck or should I wait for a longer passing zone?" When you start thinking about it, the number of choices we make each day is incredible. Yet, relatively few choices are momentous but those few choices are crucial to your whole life.

One example of a momentous choice is marriage. Since marriage is a life commitment, saying, "I do!"is a life altering choice. Another set of momentous choices involve us and God. First, of course, is the decision to repent and actively believe God. After that, the choices we make will enhance or detract from our walk with God.

The Apostles faced that kind of choice early on in Acts. They were doing what God had told them to do: preaching, teaching and baptizing the new believers. They were also seeing exciting things happening: there were new believers virtually every day, believers were growing in faith and commitment, and there were miracles! Then they hit a hard stone wall and it was decision time.

A man was healed and Peter and John were brought to the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin "called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus." {Acts 4:18} (Remember this is the group that plotted to crucify Jesus.) What will Peter and John choose to do? Well, this is their choice: "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." {Acts 4:19-20}

That choice to obey and be faithful to God was tested again. They were arrested again. This time the High Priest said, "'We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,' he said. 'Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood.'" {Acts 5:28} They made a similar choice again, Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men! The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead-whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him." {Acts 5:29-32}

Their choice is also shown in how they respond to these threats. The first time the Sanhedrin simply warned and threatened them. Peter and John went back to the others and they all started praying. "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." {Acts 4:31}

The second time they were flogged then let go with another order to cease speaking about Jesus. The punishment had a remarkable effect on the church because this is how they chose to behave, "The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ." {Acts 5:41-42}

The rest of Acts shows how momentous these decisions were. In future persecutions Christians chose to make similar choices in their walks with Jesus. More people made decisions for Christ and the church went forward. In fact, that same thing is still going on. The Apostle's choice charted their future with God and much of the Church's future too.

Those early Christians are an example to us on how we need to make our choices prayerfully, wisely, and considering the whole counsel of God.

So today make choices that honor and obey God and walk in step with the Spirit.

Written by Rev. Daniel B. Baker May 2005



Articles by Rev. Daniel B. Baker :: Webmaster: Joseph I. Baker