Empowered Choices: Reflecting God's Love in Action

Devotional

Day 1: The Divine Gift of Choice

Our ability to make choices is a divine gift that sets us apart from the rest of creation. This capacity for discernment and rational thought reflects God's image in us and is essential for a genuine relationship with Him. God desires that we use this gift wisely, considering not just what is permissible, but what is beneficial and builds others up. The choices we make daily, whether big or small, have a profound impact on our lives and the lives of those around us.

In 1 Corinthians 10:23, we are reminded that while all things may be permissible, not all things are beneficial. This scripture calls us to a higher standard of living, one that prioritizes the well-being of others over our own desires. By making choices that build others up, we reflect God's love and wisdom in our lives. [01:11]

Proverbs 16:9 (ESV): "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."

Reflection: Think about a recent decision you made. Did it benefit others as well as yourself? How can you make more choices that reflect God's love and wisdom?

Day 2: Informed Decisions Through God's Word

To make intelligent choices, we need the right information, which comes from our relationship with Jesus and immersion in His Word. Aligning our decisions with God's will ensures that we are on the best path for our lives. This alignment requires preparation, as Peter advises us to prepare our minds for action.

God's Word provides us with the wisdom and guidance we need to navigate life's challenges. Psalm 32:8 reminds us that God guides us along the best pathways for our lives. By immersing ourselves in scripture and seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus, we equip ourselves with the knowledge and discernment needed to make wise choices. [12:46]

James 1:5 (ESV): "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."

Reflection: Are you regularly seeking wisdom from God's Word? How can you incorporate more scripture into your daily routine to help guide your decisions?

Day 3: Acting with Purpose

We must move from passive reactions to proactive decisions. By reframing our tasks from "have to" to "choose to," we acknowledge our agency and prioritize what truly matters. This shift in perspective helps us take ownership of our actions and align them with our values and commitments.

Acting with purpose means being intentional about our choices and understanding the impact they have on our lives and the lives of others. It involves making deliberate decisions that align with our faith and values, rather than simply reacting to circumstances. This proactive approach allows us to live more fulfilling and meaningful lives. [19:17]

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV): "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."

Reflection: What is one task you can reframe from "have to" to "choose to" today? How does this change your perspective and motivation?

Day 4: Choosing Love and Kindness

Our choices should reflect love, kindness, and grace, even when it is inconvenient. The story of the Good Samaritan illustrates the importance of making a series of deliberate choices to help others. True greatness in God's kingdom is found in humility and servanthood, prioritizing the needs of others selflessly.

Choosing love and kindness means going beyond our comfort zones to serve and uplift others. It involves making sacrifices and putting others' needs before our own. By doing so, we reflect the love of Christ and make a positive impact on the world around us. [29:55]

Galatians 6:9-10 (ESV): "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."

Reflection: Who in your life could use an extra dose of love and kindness today? What specific action can you take to show them God's love?

Day 5: Commitment and Consistency

Commitment involves making a series of choices consistently. Whether it's showing up for church, spending time in prayer, or engaging in acts of kindness, our repeated choices shape our character and impact those around us. Jesus' choice to go to the cross exemplifies the ultimate commitment to love and sacrifice.

Consistency in our choices builds habits that define our character and influence our spiritual growth. By committing to regular practices of faith, such as prayer, worship, and service, we strengthen our relationship with God and become more effective in our witness to others. [37:00]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Reflection: What is one spiritual practice you can commit to consistently this week? How can this commitment help you grow in your faith and impact those around you?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

In the final part of the "Miracles in the Mundane" series, we explored the profound impact of choices in our lives. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 10:23, we discussed how while all things may be permissible, not all things are beneficial or build others up. This scripture emphasizes the importance of making choices that consider the well-being of others, not just ourselves. We delved into the concept of choice through personal anecdotes, such as the wisdom imparted by my father about the consequences of indecision, and the daily choices we make, which can number up to 35,000.

We are uniquely created with the ability to make choices, a trait that sets us apart from the rest of God's creation. This ability is a reflection of God's image in us, as seen in Genesis 1:27-31. God desires a relationship with us, which necessitates free will. Our choices should be informed by wisdom and discernment, which we gain through our relationship with Jesus and immersion in His Word. Psalm 32:8 and 1 Peter 1:13 remind us that God guides us along the best pathways for our lives, and we must prepare our minds for action.

We also discussed the importance of acting with purpose rather than passively reacting to circumstances. This involves making deliberate choices and owning them, as illustrated by reframing our "have to" tasks as "choose to" tasks. This shift in perspective helps us prioritize what truly matters. Lastly, we emphasized the need to choose love, kindness, and grace, even when it is inconvenient. Our choices have a ripple effect on those around us, and we are called to consider the impact of our actions on others, as highlighted in Philippians 2:3 and the story of the Good Samaritan.

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Key Takeaways

1. The Power of Choice: Our ability to make choices is a divine gift that sets us apart from the rest of creation. This capacity for discernment and rational thought reflects God's image in us and is essential for a genuine relationship with Him. God desires that we use this gift wisely, considering not just what is permissible, but what is beneficial and builds others up. [01:11]
2. Informed Decisions: To make intelligent choices, we need the right information, which comes from our relationship with Jesus and immersion in His Word. Aligning our decisions with God's will ensures that we are on the best path for our lives. This alignment requires preparation, as Peter advises us to prepare our minds for action. [12:46]
3. Acting with Purpose: We must move from passive reactions to proactive decisions. By reframing our tasks from "have to" to "choose to," we acknowledge our agency and prioritize what truly matters. This shift in perspective helps us take ownership of our actions and align them with our values and commitments. [19:17]
4. Choosing Love and Kindness: Our choices should reflect love, kindness, and grace, even when it is inconvenient. The story of the Good Samaritan illustrates the importance of making a series of deliberate choices to help others. True greatness in God's kingdom is found in humility and servanthood, prioritizing the needs of others selflessly. [29:55]
5. Commitment and Consistency: Commitment involves making a series of choices consistently. Whether it's showing up for church, spending time in prayer, or engaging in acts of kindness, our repeated choices shape our character and impact those around us. Jesus' choice to go to the cross exemplifies the ultimate commitment to love and sacrifice. [37:00]
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Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Introduction to the Series
[01:11] - Scripture Context: 1 Corinthians 10:23
[02:32] - Personal Anecdote: Choices in Parenting
[04:59] - Fun Facts About Daily Choices
[07:33] - Created for Wisdom and Choice
[10:12] - God's Relationship with Us
[11:28] - God’s Choice in Creation
[12:46] - Information for Intelligent Choices
[13:56] - Aligning with God's Will
[15:10] - The Paradox of Choice
[16:29] - Guardrails from the Bible
[17:53] - Importance of Being Informed
[19:17] - Acting with Purpose
[20:48] - Teaching Kids About Choices
[22:12] - Reframing "Have to" as "Choose to"
[24:54] - Prioritizing Commitments
[26:06] - Self-Reflection on Choices
[27:35] - Owning Our Choices
[28:44] - Note on Mental and Physical Health
[29:55] - Choosing Love, Kindness, and Grace
[31:10] - Impact of Our Choices on Others
[32:41] - Personal Struggles with Social Interactions
[34:11] - Humility and Servanthood
[35:45] - The Good Samaritan Story
[37:00] - Commitment Through Choices
[38:32] - Jesus' Choice on the Cross
[40:02] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to 1 Corinthians 10:23, what distinction does Paul make between what is lawful and what is beneficial?
In Genesis 1:27-31, what responsibilities did God give to humans after creating them in His image?
How does Psalm 32:8 describe God's role in guiding our choices?

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul emphasize that not all lawful things are beneficial or build others up? How does this relate to our daily choices?
How does being created in God's image, as described in Genesis, influence our ability to make choices?
What does it mean to prepare our minds for action as advised in 1 Peter 1:13, and how can this preparation impact our decision-making?

Application Questions

Reflect on a recent choice you made. Was it lawful but not necessarily beneficial? How could you have made a more beneficial choice?
Think about a time when you had to make a difficult decision. How did your relationship with Jesus and your knowledge of His Word influence that decision?
Identify a "have to" task in your life. How can you reframe it as a "choose to" task to better align with your values and commitments?
Consider a situation where you need to choose love, kindness, or grace, even when it's inconvenient. How can you prepare yourself to make that choice?
How can you ensure that your daily choices reflect the well-being of others, as emphasized in Philippians 2:3?
What steps can you take to align your decisions more closely with God's will, as described in Psalm 32:8?
Reflect on Jesus' choice to go to the cross. How does His example of commitment and sacrifice inspire you to make consistent, purposeful choices in your own life?

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for outreach

1. "Life is full of choices. We make so many choices from the time we wake up to the time we go to bed and they get harder as you get older, right? Like my kids are trying to choose, like, do I want to hit you with a sword? Or a, or a shield today? Like that's a good, do I want to jump off the couch or the table? Those are the choices my kids are making. And like, that's got some consequences. They might break their legs. Those are big consequences." [03:47] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "So my first point, though, is that you were literally created. To exercise wisdom and choice. So your ability for discernment and choice separates you from the rest of God's creation. So Genesis 1, 27 to 31 says, so God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God, he created them. Male and female, he created them." [07:33] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "God wants a relationship with us. And a key part of a relationship is free will. It's not a relationship if you force someone to love you, right? Not a relationship if you force someone to love and obey you. That's not love. That's not a relationship. That's fake. Fake. And God wants to walk with us. He wants to love us. And he wants us to love him. So he gives us free will." [10:12] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We have to prepare our minds to make choices, right? Action, choice. You're actually deciding to do something and you have to prepare. How do you prepare? By getting in the word, by praying, right? We got to prepare so that you're ready to make the choice in any given situation. Situation. You don't know what the situation is yet. Prepare for it." [13:56] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We spend time and give priority to the things that are important to us. And we often take a passive role in our lives because we can avoid accountability. So if we don't take active choices, it's not our fault, right? If I just have to do these things and I can't be held responsible for all the things that I can't do, right? But we choose to make important what is important in our lives and to put a back on the back burner what we put there." [27:35] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for members

1. "So if you missed the first two, this is a series where we are focusing on the miracles that are kind of present in our everyday interactions and communications that we kind of move through life quickly, right? And we take for granted those things we don't appreciate the spiritual impact of. So first week, we looked at curiosity and the impact that being curious about those in our lives can have. The second week, we talked about emotional contagion and the impact that emotions have in our lives. And today, we are talking about the miracle of choice or the importance of choice in our lives." [00:00] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "So my first point, though, is that you were literally created. To exercise wisdom and choice. So your ability for discernment and choice separates you from the rest of God's creation. So Genesis 1, 27 to 31 says, so God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God, he created them. Male and female, he created them. And God blessed them and said, be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry around the ground." [07:33] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We have to prepare our minds to make choices, right? Action, choice. You're actually deciding to do something and you have to prepare. How do you prepare? By getting in the word, by praying, right? We got to prepare so that you're ready to make the choice in any given situation. Situation. You don't know what the situation is yet. Prepare for it. And as people, we actually like some guardrails, all right? We say as people that we want freedom. We want to be able to do whatever we want. We don't. That's a lie. It's absolutely a lie." [13:56] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "So my third point is choose love, kindness, and grace, even when it's inconvenient. So I want to take it a step further and kind of tie in some of the things we talked about from the last two weeks. As Christians, we can't just think about the way that our churches, our choices affect ourselves. We have to think about the way that our churches, our choices affect others. As the first scripture that we read, the next verse of it, Paul says, not everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible, but not everything builds other people up." [29:55] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Commitment involves choices, right? It involves choosing to show up again and again and again and again and again. It involves me choosing. Like literally I drove by the 4th of July thing and I thought that's too many people. I'm gonna go home. I literally am not kidding. I drove by and I thought that's a lot of people and I don't know. But I parked my car and I took a deep breath in the parking garage and I said, I can do it. The Lord is with me today. And I literally, and I took a good on walk down the road and I took a deep breath and we made it. And so you too, you can do hard things, right?" [35:45] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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