Daily Wisdom 10-10-2003 Choose This Day

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Choose This Day

I went to buy some face cream the other day and found the store was out of my usual brand. I thought it should be easy enough to pick a different one - there were tons of them. But all the rows of choices created a new problem. Which to choose, which to choose? Did I want anti-aging or wrinkle-fighting? (Shouldn't I have both?) Did I want daytime or night formula? (I guess I would need to decide at what time of day I would rather shrivel up.) Should I choose aloe or Vitamin E? Cream or lotion? Paper or plastic?

All of life is full of choices. I've been thinking about elections, for instance. I'm reminded that every year we make another set of choices. Vote for him? How about her? Sometimes it's confusing. And it rarely produces smoother, more supple skin. As a matter of fact, it can even cause those painfully bothersome worry lines in some folks--usually the people involved in the campaigning, bless their hearts (Did anyone else notice it's called "cam-PAIN-ing"?).

Still, despite the wrinkle potential, we celebrate the fact that we get to choose. What a wonderful privilege and awesome responsibility.

Even in our spiritual lives, God has granted us the amazing privilege of choice. Will we serve him? Will we serve worldly objectives? Will we serve ourselves? Joshua 24:15 says: "But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

The choice is ours. Let's not blow it. Let's roll up our sleeves. Let's make wise choices regarding who serves in government leadership. Let's be even more cautious how we choose who gets our heart service. Deuteronomy 13:4 says, "It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. (NIV)

Joshua gave the people the choice whether to serve worldliness of the past, sinful desires of the present or the God of all time. The people were free to choose, but "not deciding" was not an option. To choose any way other than God's way was to choose self. It's the same for us.

Joshua made the right choice. He chose to serve the Lord. As a matter of fact, he chose wisely for his entire household. I want to make wise choices as well - in all the big areas and in the small ones too. Thankfully, he allows me to serve, wrinkles and all. As for my face cream, I ended up choosing a drum of the anti-aging, wrinkle-fighting, aloe and Vitamin E fortified, 24-hour long-lasting creamy lotion formula. Alas, now I think I might be too young to vote.

Contributed by Rhonda Rhearrhea@juno.comRhonda Rhea writes for dozens of great Christian publications and speaks at conferences and events across the country. You can find her new book, Amusing Grace, at your local Christian bookstore. Rhonda's husband, Richie Rhea, is a pastor in Troy, Missouri. You can reach them through her Web site atwww.rhondarhea.net