You Must Choose

Today's devotional was written by Scotty Hayes

Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word. 1 Kings 18:21

In our culture today there are very few prophets who will ask the tough questions as Elijah did on Mt. Carmel. But when a true messenger of God preaches the full word of God there will be hard questions asked to the people of God. Many times when we are confronted with these pointed questions we answer with our silence. We find ourselves waiting and contemplating the two options as if we were on our own time schedule and not our heavenly Father’s.

In this passage we see that Elijah is telling the people that they must choose one side or the other. They must pick sides. “If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him”. We are accustomed to choosing sides. We choose sides in almost every aspect of life from sports to entertainment.  Every day in various ways we make choices about life…which side we want to win and which side we want to lose.  Why do we think we can just stay silent when it comes to choosing to follow God?

I’ll never forget when my wife Jadison worked at Wayne County High School and we went to the Pierce County vs Wayne County football game. We had to choose a side to sit on. Because Wayne County was Jadison’s employer at that time we decided to sit on the Wayne County side.  This was not something I was personally fond of because grew up in Pierce county and I’m a PC Bear at heart but I had to choose a side.

In so doing I separated myself from the other team and all their supporters.  Some of them were even my close friends. Once we make a choice to go a certain direction, pick a side or to follow the one True God we join with that side and separate from the other!

I wonder if that is why people are so unwilling to choose a side when it comes to the things of the Lord. Could it be that we don't want to separate from our close friends, family or the ways that we were raised?  I wonder if we think we can enjoy the benefits of both sides if we remain silent on issues that would separate obedient believers from a fallen world?

There is a battle going on and it is a battle for souls. Jesus Christ has already won this battle and He is inviting us to join Him in His victory over sin and death!  But we must choose to follow Him.  In so doing we will unavoidably separate ourselves from a world who is following the ways of our other modern day gods.

A ten year old boy served as an usher at his aunt's wedding one Saturday afternoon.  He was taught to ask, "Which side would like to be seated on?  The bride's or the groom's?"  The following morning, he was asked to work as an usher at the country church his family attended.  Just before the service began, two first-time visitors walked up the sidewalk.  Visitors were rare at the country church and the young usher was puzzled.  Finally, he gathered his wits, opened the sanctuary door and boldly asked, "Who's side are you on anyway?"

An awkward question from a confused little usher.  But in the end, that's not a bad question.

Questions / Activities for the Day:

1.  Try to think of an occasion or two in recent memory where you have consciously made a choice to follow God's way and not the world's way.  If no memory comes to mind, ask the Lord, "Could it be I've silently chosen to follow Baal?"

2.  If certain instances do come to mind, recount to yourself and to your family any costs that were involved in making that choice (loss of friendship, lack of popularity, money, pleasure, etc).

3.  Thank the Lord Jesus for any such decisions you've made that honored Him.  They only happened because of His grace and not our goodness.