One Choice At a Time
“I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore CHOOSE LIFE!” Deuteronomy 30:19
I have been working through Dr. Jerry Bridge’s devotional, Holiness Day By Day – Transformational Thoughts for Your Spiritual Journey [Nav Press], this year and I have learned so much about grace, holiness and the power of God.
The devotional today was one that I felt compelled to share with you. It really spoke to my heart:
The practice of putting off sinful attitudes and actions and putting on Christlike character involves a constant series of choices. We choose in every situation which direction we will go. Through these choices we develop Christlike habits of living. Habits are developed by repetition, and it’s in the arena of moral choices that we develop spiritual habit patterns.
We see this in Romans 6:19: “Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.” (NIV) The more the Roman believers sinned, the more they were inclined to sin. They were continually deepening their habit patterns of sin simply through their practice of making sinful choices.
What was true of them can be just as true of us today. Sin tends to cloud our reason, dull our consciences, stimulate our sinful desires, and weaken our wills. Because of this, each sin we commit reinforces the habit of sinning and makes it easier to give in to that temptation the next time.
Paul wanted the Roman believers, and us today, to turn in the other direction and develop habits of godly living: “So now offer [the parts of your body] in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness” (Romans 16:19, NIV). Righteousness in this passage refers to the ethical righteousness – the right conduct – we’re to practice every day. Whereas righteousness in this verse refers to our conduct, holiness refers to our character.
So it’s through righteous actions that we develop holy character. Holiness of character is developed one choice at a time as we choose to act righteously in each and every situation and circumstance we encounter during the day!
Pretty powerful. I need to be reminded of this truth daily! I would highly recommend adding this resource to your devotional library. It will be a great investment. To order a copy, call my Administrative Assistant, Ruth, at 732-350-1187 ext. 21. Be blessed today, brothers. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick
Compass Pointers: Sin will always take you further than you want to go; sin will always keep you longer than you want to stay; and sin will always cost you more than you are willing to pay. – Dr. John C. Maxwell
Anchored to the Rock: Surely the experience of all good men confirms the proposition that without a due measure of private devotions the soul will grow lean. William Wilberforce
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