February 4 I Tuesday

Exodus 34-35

Matthew 22:23-46

TWO IMPORTANT DECISIONS

“Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life.” —Psalm 143:8

There are two important decisions we will make in life. The first is, “Who is going to be my master?” Some of us may want to deny the fact that we have a master but we do. Paul tells us, “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey––whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” (Romans 6:16). We basically have two choices: sin or righteousness. Everything we do in life will be an expression of what we choose to master our life.

  The second most important decision, which follows the first, is, “Who is my mate?” Our life consists of many relationships. Some are casual, such as friends, work colleagues and neighbours, while others are close, like our parents, children and spouse. We do not get to choose our parents or children. Even though we may decide when we want to have children, we do not choose who they are, what they will become, their personalities, temperaments and character. We do, however, get to choose our spouse. If we have a difficult marriage, it is nobody else’s fault but our own. The closest and most intimate relationship that any of us can ever be a part of is the relationship of marriage.

As a Christian, it is vital that we heed to the warning of Paul, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”
(2 Corinthians 6:14). Paul speaks of marriage here, where as a Christian, we should not be yoked with an unbeliever. Yoking is something we do with oxen. When we yoke two oxen together, they are going the same direction and headed for the same goals in life. But with an unbeliever, there are no shared goals or fundamental values in life.

One may have been an unbeliever when married and later became a believer. There is a possibility for one’s unbelieving spouse to come to Christ, but while that may not be the case, God continues to work, bless and enrich one in that situation. But if a believer chooses to marry another, who is not a believer, then that is disobedience because one is building a foundation that does not begin with the will of God. If one is single, make the decision before God to only marry somebody who knows and loves God and whose life is surrendered to the lordship of Christ.

These two important decisions will affect how we live the rest of our lives, so may we be wise and make God-honouring choices.

Prayer: Lord God, You are the master of my life. I ask that the decisions I make in life will be honouring to You. Thank You, Lord.