Scripture References: The Parable of the Two Sons in Matthew 21:28-32,
Paul’s Honest Struggles with Doing the Right Thing in Romans 7: 21-8:17,
and Isaiah’s Promise of Guidance in Isaiah 30:18-26.
Directions Before Reading: Get a journal to write down what you read and think about in this session. You can use any version of the Bible. If you have time, read two different translations of each story.
Today's Topic: The Choices We Make In Life
You will read each passage and take notes about what is happening. Take 10 minutes to read and digest each passage. In this exercise we will look at different, but related pieces of scripture, and how they come together to direct our spiritual life.
Prayer Before Reading: Jesus, show me the truth you want me to see in this story and teach me by the guidance of your Holy Spirit, Amen.
Stop and Read the passages! Picture yourself in each passage. Do not skip ahead.
See if you agree with my comments and answers to the questions that follow. Record your answers in a journal.
Commentary on Choices on My Mind
A mother agrees to let her two young children share the last large piece of chocolate cake, but she assigns one the task of cutting the piece in two and the other the job of choosing the first piece to take off the plate. This woman has guided her children in wisdom! Perhaps she has seen a fight about who got the biggest piece on other occasions and has chosen to prevent that squabble, or she has this tactic as part of her list of parenting life hacks. Either way she has made a wise choice and a fair distribution.
We make choices every day, consciously and unconsciously. And we also change our minds in the process, just like the sons of the parable did. Historically this challenge of making a choice is often depicted as a struggle between good and evil with an angel on one shoulder and a little devil on the other, each whispering into the ears of the human who is frozen in the struggle to choose. In my head, I can often brainstorm between three and twenty possible choices for each decision I wish to make depending on the time involved. Maybe that is me just procrastinating, but I call this my choice spectrum. Of course, this doesn’t make choosing any easier!
In Jesus’ parable, he seems to indicate that the will of the Father is best tied to the outcome or action which is visible to the world. That frees me up to allow the mental struggle for which choice is best—or perhaps represents God’s desire for me in the moment. Maybe focusing on the choice that has the best outcome for the world or community should be a guiding principle here. He chides the religious leaders for not following God’s truth. They ignored the witness of John the Baptist. John was the one in the desert who prepared the way for Christ by helping people desire to change their minds (repent). So maybe there are people who never even enter the struggle to decide on which choice to make. Instead, they live in this world not caring what other people think about them or their decisions and certainly not open at all to what Jesus calls the Kingdom of God.
The Good News for me is that the Apostle Paul also struggled with choices. Even as he bears witness to following the lead of the Holy Spirit during his missionary journeys, he also shares his own personal struggle with the voices in his head that would lead him astray. This passage shows how difficult it can be to allow the Holy Spirit to control our minds. This is a process of sanctification and it is often a bumpy road. We have Jesus’ partnership in this journey as well because of his defeat of sin, death, and the devil. Paul also relies on the promise of eternal life beyond all the good or bad decision we make in this life. This is very big picture and also very freeing because Paul knows that ultimately God is in control of each situation as we learn how to make the most faithful decisions that will please the Triune God.
I also love the passage from Isaiah who delivers an oracle of God’s faithfulness to those who seek a relationship with God. What wonderful promises in this passage: God waits to be gracious to us. Blessed are those who wait for God. Our Teacher will speak to us directly. Guidance from behind to confirm whether you should turn left or right. Guidance on the path is personal. A word just for you! I know of some believers who have experienced this still small voice. I can’t say for sure if I have or not, but knowing this is possible, especially if I am making a very bad wrong turn, bolsters my faith.
Living the Story
Psychologists also study the way people make decisions. The factors involved often are related to personality type profiles. Are you consciously aware of your style of making decisions? Do you rely on data or how you feel about the situation? Do you consider personal needs, what is ethically right or wrong or just what works in the moment? Do you ask: “What would Jesus Do?” Do you seek help from the Holy Spirit in prayer? Do you seek advice from others? Who are the other people you trust with guidance on decisions in your life? Are they practicing Christians? Do you ask others to pray about big decisions you are struggling to make? What is the big decision you are struggling with right now? How can the Holy Spirit and the Principles of the Kingdom of God that Jesus taught us influence that decision?
Prayer Concern: Pray for the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to make choices that please God and are part of the work God is up to in this world. Pray for anyone you know who seems to be making poor decisions– that God will enter the person’s thoughts and heart to seek ways for spiritual renewal and then reach out in love to that person.
Daily Discipline: Spend 5-20 minutes each day in solitude. You can set a timer. Sit in a straight-backed chair that supports you comfortably. Rest your hands palms up in your lap or on your thighs. Close your eyes and listen to the silence. Give God permission to be present in your life and to guide your decisions. Share your journal entries from this study if you wish. Then wait on the Lord.