“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…” (Joshua 24:15, NIV)
You know this commonplace statement: “I’m headed out to play golf.” You’ve probably said it. And when you haven’t, you’ve still put on the clothes, piled the clubs in the trunk, backed out of the garage, and gone for it.
In fact, much of your life is lived like this—making little decisions one after the other. Pasta or salad? TV or reading? Yard work or golf?
Some decisions are bigger. A car, a house, a job.
But we see them no differently than Joshua saw the decision to follow the Lord. In our minds, in our hearts, we weigh the options and pick one.
Yet where does this activity of choosing touch down in the midst of God’s sovereignty? Is he determining my steps or am I? Let’s just say it: that’s one tough question!
We know from Scripture that God determines even the cast of a die (Proverbs 16:33), that he has compassion on whom he wills (Exodus 33:19), and that he predestines us according to his plan (Ephesians 1:11).
But we know also that the Bible is full of invitational language: “Return to me with all your heart” (Joel 2:12), “Seek the LORD while he may be found,” (Isaiah 55:6), “Come to me all who are weary” (Matthew 11:28).
This balance—or tension, if you want to call it that—never leaves Scripture. No wonder James warned us to be careful in the way we speak of tomorrow. We should not say “we will,” but rather “if the Lord wills” (James 4:15). We can know our minds, we can make our choices, but we cannot know how the Lord will enact what he has planned over and above our decisions (see Proverbs 16:1-4).
So here’s the idea: Plan. Act. Do. Be like the industrious recipients of the king’s wealth during his absence (the Parable of the Talents). And meanwhile: Pray. Defer to the Lord, never boasting in what you will do or have done. Reflect and correct, according to the Lord’s discipline. When you keep these in balance, you look forward with responsible decision making and backward with awe at God’s handiwork in the midst of it all. In this way, his calling and your responding meet up for an excellent life.
—
Jeff Hopper
March 4, 2013
Copyright 2013 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
OTHER DEVOTIONS IN THE CALLING SERIES
Calling, Part 1: Identity First
Calling, Part 2: Response and Readiness
Calling, Part 3: Is It God?
Calling, Part 4: Lacking a Caller
Calling, Part 5: Your Specific Destiny
Calling, Part 6: Sovereignty and Calling
Calling, Part 8: God’s Confirmation, Our Confidence
Calling, Part 9: Aliens and Ambassadors
Calling, Part 10: Excellence in Our Calling
Calling, Part 11: Balance in Our Calling