In what ways can we ensure we choose Christ over worldly desires today? The choice that confronts every generation Acts 3:14 reminds us, “You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.” The crowd stood at a crossroads: embrace Christ or cling to the world’s false security. That same fork in the road greets us daily. The timeless contrast: Christ or the world • Christ is “the Holy and Righteous One.” • The world offers substitutes—power, pleasure, applause—that look enticing but cannot save. • Scripture exposes the stakes: – 1 John 2:15-17: “Do not love the world or anything in the world… The world is passing away with its desires, but whoever does the will of God remains forever.” – Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters…” Practical ways to choose Christ today 1. Keep His worth before your eyes • Philippians 3:8: count everything loss “because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.” • Start each day by reading a Gospel passage; let His words shape your priorities. 2. Offer your body as a living sacrifice • Romans 12:1-2: present yourself wholly to God, resisting conformity to the age. • Make concrete choices—what you watch, buy, pursue—that align with holiness. 3. Walk by the Spirit, not the flesh • Galatians 5:16: “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” • Invite the Spirit’s guidance in real-time moments: a tempting website, a gossiping conversation, a restless purchase. 4. Set your mind on things above • Colossians 3:1-2: fix thoughts where Christ is seated. • Memorize verses; replace anxious scrolling with meditating on eternal truths. 5. Cultivate godly community • Hebrews 10:24-25: spur one another on to love and good deeds. • Share victories and struggles with trusted believers who will point you back to Christ. 6. Practice regular repentance • James 4:8-10 calls us to draw near to God, cleanse our hands, purify our hearts. • Quick confession keeps the heart tender and uncluttered by worldly residue. 7. Steward time and resources for the kingdom • Matthew 6:19-21: invest where moth and rust cannot destroy. • Budget, calendar, and ambitions become declarations that Jesus—not the culture—dictates value. Treasuring Him in daily rhythms Morning: praise, Scripture, surrender of agenda. Work or school: serve “as unto the Lord,” refusing shortcuts that compromise integrity. Evening: review the day, thank Him for faithfulness, confess where worldly desires crept in, reset focus on His grace. Encouragement from the saints Hebrews 12:1-2 urges us to “run with endurance the race set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” Every deliberate glance toward Christ diminishes the glitter of the world. Choosing Him once for salvation leads to choosing Him moment by moment for satisfaction—and that choice will echo into eternity. |
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