CHOICES

“…to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to public disgrace.” Hebrews 6:6

Our Sunday School teacher ended the class by passing out 8” spikes. “Take this nail home and put it somewhere that you can see it every morning. Then, every time you see it, remember and ask yourself this question: ‘Today I will crucify someone. Will it be myself, or will it be Christ.’”

Whew!

I’m sure no true Christian wants to re-crucify the Lord we love—but do we? The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

How do we treat the people He loves and died for? Do we serve them? Do we, His hands, His feet, His voice, love them as He loved them? Do we love and serve Him?

His answer? “As you have done it to the least of these, so you have done it unto Me.”

Choices.

We are living sacrifices, and every decision we make has Kingdom consequences. How do we spend our time here at the end of time? How do we spend our talents, our energy? TV, computer games, social media, sports, workouts, hobbies, kicking back with whatever relaxes us…  

And yeah, I’m preaching to myself here, too.

None of these things are wrong in themselves. Many of them are even ways to build bridges and serve—but we must examine our motives, and we must count the cost. Everything is permissible—we are no longer under the Law, but under grace—but not everything is beneficial. Do our choices drain us? Do they rob us of time with God? Do they waste opportunities?

Tim Hansel wrote that the trouble with a living sacrifice is that it keeps crawling off the altar, for good reason. Living sacrifices. Sounds likes pain. Sounds humanly impossible—and it is.  

The good news is that we don’t have to do it alone.

Avi, I’m not good at this sacrifice business. I see the end of my strength, and I hoard what’s left. Time flies like the wind, and the less there is, the faster it flies. I see the end of my days fast approaching. Help me to keep my eyes on You, the Master of the Wind, and not on the hurricane.

In Your holy name, Amen.