One Thing is Needful

Text: Deut. 30:1-10
More Lessons: Luke 10:42
Bible Reading in one Year: Zechariah 11-14

One of the things that determines your worth and value in life is the choice you make. Life is full of many choices so we all require the power to choose correctly. Choosing to live is living to choose. Your future is determined by the choice you make today. It is clear that God does not force His will on man, but holds him responsible for His choices, And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine: I Sam. 17:40. According to this scripture, David chose out of many stones in the brook by the power of the Holy Spirit; the greatest tool for choice making in life is the inherent power in the believer called the HOLY SPIRIT. Whenever a man chooses correctly, he gains, and anytime he makes a wrong choice he loses.

We choose daily. How? We choose by the way we live; our life style is all about choice making. When we live a reckless life today, all we are saying is, “I don't care what tomorrow holds”. In fact, what you say, wear, allow or refuse is choice making.

In Luke 10:42, Mary was able to identify the good part due to her sensitivity and discerning ability, and Jesus commended her. When we choose out of carnal considerations as Lot did in Gen. 13:8-11, we are likely to miss it.

It is good for young people to be careful when making choices especially the choice of marriage partners. My counsel is to choose the will of God; by choosing what He has chosen for us, we can be sure we got it. Though adults also make choices every day, young people need to be much more careful in choosing because they lack the wisdom, understanding and the experience the adult uses in choice making. God is always ready to assist you in choice making; all we need to do is to hand over the options to Him in sincere prayer.

Apart from the choice of career, courses to offer in higher institutions and where to live in future, every young person is confronted with the choice of a friend and marriage partner . In addition to choosing the will of God, good character, virtues and values should be other considerations when we choose. Surround yourself with good people and allow them to influence your choice. It is said that life is better, if lived in company of good people. The more good people we have around us, the warmer our lives can be. Friendship with good people can open you up to opportunities and ideas that can blow you up in good ways; deliver you from loneliness; make you realise how useful and valuable you are contributing to other people’s life; make you feel adequate because your friends can complement your life with their virtues and talents.

Prayer / Action
* Pray that you will only choice what God has choosen for you everyday of your life.
* Review some of the choices you have made in recent past and weigh them against the balance of God’s Word.

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The Right to Choose

Text: Lk. 10:38-42
More Lessons:  Psa. 25:12
Bible Reading in one Year: Zechariah 7-10

The right to choose is one of the greatest privileges believers have in Christ Jesus. And when it comes to making choices, there are usually only two things to choose from in life; good and bad, God and Satan, life and death, blessing and cursing (Deut. 30:19). The need for making right choices is a challenge we face every day. Jesus in Luke 10:42 says, But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Ability to choose correctly is a great factor for living a successful life. We daily make choices because God does not choose for men nor force His will on men. Moreover, in choosing correctly the first choice really matters.

It is only those who choose Jesus as their Lord and Saviour and are filled with the Holy Spirit that can divinely choose. Choosing to know the Lord Jesus Christ as Peter did is the key to choosing every good thing in life. Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God: John 6:68-69. God recognises man's ability to choose and will hold him responsible for his choices. Those who believe and accept Jesus will be saved while those who refuse will not be saved (Jn. 3:16-18). Whatever happens to you depends on the choice you are making or had made.

Moreover, God even commanded man to make choices, I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: Deut. 30:19. He counselled him on what to choose. God knows what is best for His own; so with God and the Holy Spirit in a believer, mistakes and errors are strangers.

Above all, choosing to serve God is the greatest of all choices a believer can make, but God will still not force it on us (Josh. 24:14-15). There are certain ways God wants to be served; with fear (Psa. 2:1), gladness, (Psa. 100:2), following him (Matt. 6:24), with newness of spirit (Rom. 7:6), day and night (Rev. 7:15, 22:3) and in humility (Acts 20:19). And when we do, here is the promise of the Lord; If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures: Job 36:11.

Prayer / Action
* Pray that you will serve the Lord, acceptably in fear , humility and row-ness of heart.
* Ask for the heart of a servant in all obedience to make choices in alignment with the will of God only.

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Morning Rush

Text: Num 14: 21-38
More Lessons:  Prov. 18:20-21
Bible Reading in one Year: Zechariah 4-6

Morning is characterised by activities carried out in a rush; a few prayers, reading God’s word, a shower, breakfast, etc and then rush to work. But morning can be the best part of your day. I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustains me: Psa. 3:5 (NASB). The first part of the day which is called morning is usually not an easy time for people who are really busy. Waking up early in the morning for such people can be challenging. There is no doubt of the fact that different people see and use time differently. Morning people spring from bed very early ready to face whatever life may bring, while “night people's” day doesn't really begin until about 9'O clock in the morning. But long after “morning people” have gone to bed, “night people” are still full of enthusiasm. Whatever our time temperament is, God wants us to live wisely by making the best use of every opportunity we have.

Time is the currency of life; it is what we give in exchange for all that can be achieved. And God has season and time for all His purpose and for the fulfilment of His promise. Most of the time, God’s children don't know or discern when God is fulfilling some aspects of His purpose in their lives. Discernment of time and season is necessary in order to cooperate with God in purposeful actions. Jesus, at the wedding of Cana of Galilee was teaching His mother this aspect when He said, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come: Jn. 2:4. There is a set time for everything. However, to avoid morning rush, we must learn to commit our day to God's hand before using it. Each day is fresh and a gift from God. Planning our actions before the day begins makes it more meaningful. Being successful doesn’t have to be stressful. If we can plan, prioritise and schedule our priorities, we will find the day exciting and fulfilling. Early to sleep, early to rise. Making sure we have enough hours of sleep makes waking up and facing the day a delight. Rest and relaxation are important for a successful day. Have a great day.

Prayer/Action
* Repent for everytime you have planned and prioritized wrongly in the past.
* Ask God for wisdom to plan, prioritise and stay in God’s purpose.
* Thank God because it is His will to make you successful.

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Do not Sleep

Text: Acts 20:7-11
More Lessons:  Prov . 6:6-1 1
Bible Reading in one Year: Zechariah 1-3

Sleep is a natural periodic state of rest for the mind and body in which the eyes usually close and consciousness is completely or partially lost. Spiritually, it is a state of complete or partial unconsciousness, slumbering or loss of prophetic vision, and spiritual indifference often has great consequence.

However, there are times when sleep of the night is highly beneficial; after a duty is completed (Psa. 132:5), when it is necessary for good health (Psa. 3:5) and while trusting the Lord in times of need or pain (Psa. 4:8). But when sleep becomes excessive and done at the wrong time, it can lead to a great loss (Prov. 10:5). Some people have a problem of not being able to stay awake in church during services or night vigils. But the question is, is the problem your own doing? Do you come to church eager to be blessed or just to answer roll-call?

In our text today, Eutychus fell asleep and fell off a three-storey roof during Paul's sermon. But Paul raised him from the dead and went on preaching. Always sleeping during prayer or fellowship can be a sign of spiritual weakness, carelessness or spiritual attack on the believer. In fact, the Bible admonishes the believer not to love sleep because it is a great cause of poverty (Prov . 20:13).

Every adult should sleep to live and stay healthy and not live to sleep. As the coming of the Lord is very much at hand, spiritual slumbering is one of the attacks of the devil on the believer, which is why Apostle Paul in Rom.13:11 said, ...knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The Bible is written so that we can escape the perils of the end time. And if we will be able to escape, we must not sleep as others, Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation: I Thes. 5:6-8. Believers must wake up and be on duty for God in His Kingdom.

Prayer/Action
* Pray that the powers that make people spiritually indifferent to the things of God will not prevail over you.
* Ask the father to restore, sharpen and revamp any area of your spirit-man that is drained, or by His Spirit. cold, weak.

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