June 6, 2023 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John (2SoJ)
God has Given; It’s your Choice!
Calling and choice, that is what it has always been and always will be. Faith is a choice (that is why, God has given and created in every person ‘a measure of faith’). God has made sure everyone has the same option and opportunity to choose Him. You always have the option to choose Him—it is by faith we come to Him. Brains do not count, money does not give you an edge, talent will not get you there, and popularity or fame is out of the question—it is by faith and this faith allows one to have a choice.
You say, “How do you know this is so?” The Bible is clear about this, and history supports this premise. You ask, “Show me!” just read the story about the man who had a legion of demons; how could he come to Christ? (Gospel of Mark 5:1-20 NIV)
They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.[a]2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills, he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”
9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened.15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legionof demons,sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well.17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him.19 Jesus did not let him, but said,“Go home to your own people and tell themhow much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis[b]how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
How did, how could this man cry out and come to Christ? The demons were many and yet they could not stop him from coming to Christ. The demons were in control of everything else in his life. How? The measure of faith God placed in all of us—every human being—we all have this option, and it is available to us all the time. We have a choice to either come to Christ or reject Christ. Nothing can get in the way of this measure of faith God places in each of us. All of us have the very same option—we all have a choice and nothing, absolutely nothing can get in the way of this faith or stop us from exercising our option of choosing Christ. It is your choice—it is your option of faith!
Every time you do something by faith, using your faith, it involves a choice. It does not require much faith, a simple mustard seed of faith, can move a mountain (read Luke 17:1-10). One either has (exercises faith) or you don’t exercise your faith—one either responds to Christ or you do not. Also, faith loves humility. The more one responds to God not through strength or self-worth the more your faith will work for you. This is the meaning of Luke 17:10, “The posture of our lives should be one of realizing we are unworthy servants. May we be humble before our God, being faithful to labor and toil in the duty God has graciously assigned us.” (What Jesus was saying to His disciples when they asked for more faith, Jesus told them how faith works—’one either responds properly to God or you do not’. Want more faith, it is time to be humble and unworthy.)
How else did the man with many evil spirits come the Christ? It was his mustard seed of faith. So, start choosing. First, it begins with your ‘measure of faith’; then it is choosing with humility (acting upon the measure of faith God has given you), and last of all, seeking to do God’s will alone while taking no glory/honor to oneself—everything is about Christ.
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Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com
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