Choosing God

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46).

Whenever we find ourselves with competing desires demanding our loyalty and obedience, choose God.

This is so much easier said than done. Because whenever I find myself with competing desires demanding my loyalty and obedience, it’s almost always my will, my desires, my yearnings competing against God’s will. I know how this battle will end. Unless I work really hard, my will wins. Unless I really work on choosing God’s will, my will gets done.

The default mode is choosing my will, my desires, my wants, my yearnings. God’s will is such a distant third, fourth, a hundredth choice away. I have to recall God’s will and then I have to remind myself to choose God’s way. It’s hard. It’s a lot of work. It’s exhausting. But if I don’t, God’s will loses. I end up sinning.

You see, disobeying God is not only a bad idea but it is the arrogant declaration that I know better than God. Why else wouldn’t I choose God’s will? Disobedience is the absurd and arrogant declaration that God is wrong about knowing what is best for me. It is the absurd and arrogant declaration that I know better what is best for me than God does.

That’s just dumb.

Of course God knows better. Of course God knows what is best. After all, he is God. He knows all things.

Look. I get it. Choosing God’s will is difficult. It’s hard work. It’s exhausting. But do it anyway. For your sake and mine.

Whenever we find ourselves with competing desire demanding our loyalty and obedience, choose God.