Decision: Exhibited in Following God Fully
Jump to: Torrey'sLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of decision, particularly in the context of following God fully, is a recurring theme throughout the Bible. It involves a conscious and deliberate choice to adhere to God's commandments, trust in His promises, and commit one's life to His service. This decision is often portrayed as a pivotal moment that defines the course of an individual's life and their relationship with God.

Old Testament Examples

1. Abraham: Abraham's decision to follow God is a foundational example of faith and obedience. In Genesis 12:1-4, God calls Abraham to leave his country, his people, and his father's household to go to a land that He would show him. Abraham's response is immediate and without hesitation: "So Abram departed, as the LORD had directed him" (Genesis 12:4). This decision set the course for the establishment of the nation of Israel and exemplifies unwavering trust in God's promises.

2. Joshua: Joshua's leadership is marked by his resolute decision to serve the Lord. In Joshua 24:15, he challenges the Israelites to choose whom they will serve, declaring, "But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" . Joshua's decision to follow God fully serves as a powerful declaration of faith and commitment, urging the people to make a similar choice.

3. Ruth: Ruth's decision to follow Naomi and embrace the God of Israel is a profound example of loyalty and faith. In Ruth 1:16, she declares, "Do not urge me to leave you or to turn back from following you. For where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God" . Ruth's choice to follow God fully leads to her becoming an ancestor of King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ.

New Testament Examples

1. The Disciples: The decision of the disciples to follow Jesus is a central theme in the Gospels. In Matthew 4:19-20, Jesus calls Peter and Andrew, saying, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Their response is immediate: "And at once they left their nets and followed Him" . This decision to leave everything behind and follow Jesus exemplifies total commitment and trust in His mission.

2. Paul: The Apostle Paul's conversion and subsequent decision to follow Christ fully is a transformative moment in the New Testament. In Acts 9:3-6, Paul encounters Jesus on the road to Damascus, leading to his radical transformation from a persecutor of Christians to a devoted apostle. His decision to follow God fully is evident in his declaration in Philippians 3:7-8: "But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ" .

Theological Implications

The decision to follow God fully is not merely a one-time event but a continual process of choosing to align one's life with God's will. It involves a commitment to live according to His Word, seek His guidance, and trust in His sovereignty. This decision is often accompanied by challenges and sacrifices, yet it is portrayed as the path to true fulfillment and eternal life.

Throughout Scripture, the decision to follow God fully is depicted as a response to His love and grace. It is an act of faith that acknowledges God's authority and embraces His plan for redemption. This decision is both personal and communal, impacting not only the individual but also the broader community of believers.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Numbers 14:24
But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and has followed me fully, him will I bring into the land into where he went; and his seed shall possess it.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Numbers 32:12
Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Joshua 14:8
Nevertheless my brothers that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

A Dialogue with God
... in our text and in the following verse by ... The poison-water is exhibited in many
variously coloured ... which it pronounces its only unalterable decision depends on ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/a dialogue with god.htm

The Existence of Moral Evil, or Sin, Reconciled with the Holiness ...
... the Persian Magi, whose views are exhibited by him ... would listen to an unfavourable
decision and judgment. ... is presented by Cudworth in the following words: "The ...
/.../a theodicy or vindication of the divine glory/chapter vi the existence of.htm

The Dispensation of the Divine Favours Reconciled with the ...
... no one can blame God's righteous decision, if none ... of the reprobate, it would have
been exhibited on a ... This scheme appears to possess the following very great ...
/.../a theodicy or vindication of the divine glory/chapter v the dispensation of.htm

Impiety of Attributing a visible Form to God. --The Setting up of ...
... Holy Spirit goes a very different decision; and had ... kind which have hitherto been
exhibited in churches ... most ingenious interpretation was the following, "As we ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 11 impiety of attributing.htm

The Twofold Testimony of John - the First Sabbath of Jesus's ...
... of unfolding understanding, and of ripened decision. ... twofold idea of redemption and
fellowship was exhibited. ... [1673] Without further following this remarkable ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iii the twofold testimony.htm

Formula Concordi??.
... into the Church of God contrary to their decision. ... which in the year 1530 was exhibited
to the ... of certain modern doctors, such as the following: God draws, but ...
/.../schaff/the creeds of the evangelical protestant churches/formula concordiae.htm

On Bk. viii. Chap. 2, 4 (Note 3, Continued). The Causes of the ...
... The persecution of Diocletian, following as it did a period of more than forty years
during ... The decision which was reached, and which is exhibited in the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pamphilius/church history/on bk viii chap 2.htm

Allegation 4 "We Teach that the Greatest Part of the Human Race ...
... considered, which treats of the amplitude of the grace exhibited, in the ... or desire,
or velleity, but of free volition, following the last decision of the ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 3/allegation 4 we teach that.htm

The Ancient Form of Government Utterly Corrupted by the Tyranny of ...
... Be this as it may, the decision has provided ... kingdom, where the sacerdotal order
is exhibited in royal ... without cause that God made the following promises to ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 5 the ancient form.htm

General Conference of 1824
... and never were they with greater fidelity exhibited in out ... as may require your attention
and decision, we trust ... report to the conference in the following words ...
/.../chapter 7 general conference of.htm

Resources
What does the Bible say about indecision / being indecisive? | GotQuestions.org

Who is really “playing God”'the doctor who euthanizes a dying patient, or the doctor who extends the life of a terminally ill patient? | GotQuestions.org

What is revivalism? | GotQuestions.org

Decision: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Decision

Decision Making

Decision: A Prophet

Decision: Abel

Decision: Abigail

Decision: Abraham

Decision: Asa

Decision: Balaam

Decision: Caleb

Decision: Church of Sardis

Decision: David

Decision: Elijah

Decision: Enoch

Decision: Ephesians

Decision: Esther

Decision: Exhibited in Being on the Lord's Side

Decision: Exhibited in Blessedness of

Decision: Exhibited in Following God Fully

Decision: Exhibited in Keeping the Commandments of God

Decision: Exhibited in Loving God Perfectly

Decision: Exhibited in Seeking God With the Heart

Decision: Exhibited in Serving God

Decision: Exhortation To

Decision: Exhortations To

Decision: General Scriptures Concerning

Decision: Gideon

Decision: Hezekiah

Decision: Israelites

Decision: Jacob

Decision: Jehoshaphat

Decision: Jehu

Decision: Joash

Decision: Job

Decision: Joseph

Decision: Joshua

Decision: Martha

Decision: Matthew

Decision: Mordecai

Decision: Moses

Decision: Naaman

Decision: Nathaniel

Decision: Necessary to the Service of God

Decision: Nehemiah

Decision: Noah

Decision: Opposed to a Divided Service

Decision: Opposed to Double-Mindedness

Decision: Opposed to Halting Between Two Opinions

Decision: Opposed to not Setting the Heart Aright

Decision: Opposed to Turning to the Right or Left

Decision: Paul

Decision: Peter

Decision: Phinehas

Decision: Ruth

Decision: Saints

Decision: The Disciples

Valley of Decision: General Scriptures Concerning

Related Terms

Distribution (32 Occurrences)

Wrongdoer (16 Occurrences)

Decide (33 Occurrences)

Appeal (30 Occurrences)

Argument (45 Occurrences)

Decided (54 Occurrences)

Vindicating (2 Occurrences)

Verdict (7 Occurrences)

Equally (21 Occurrences)

Distributed (30 Occurrences)

Determination (2 Occurrences)

Award (4 Occurrences)

Chance (78 Occurrences)

Thummim (6 Occurrences)

Judging (141 Occurrences)

Effect (173 Occurrences)

Unable (102 Occurrences)

Urim (8 Occurrences)

Evil-doer (88 Occurrences)

Selection (71 Occurrences)

Uncertain (13 Occurrences)

Judgment (430 Occurrences)

Judas (42 Occurrences)

Resolve (3 Occurrences)

Ruling (123 Occurrences)

Decree (82 Occurrences)

Detests (7 Occurrences)

Determine (13 Occurrences)

Distribute (23 Occurrences)

Designed (14 Occurrences)

Dome (1 Occurrence)

Masses (20 Occurrences)

Please (324 Occurrences)

Pleasing (185 Occurrences)

Convict (12 Occurrences)

Smaller (16 Occurrences)

Smallest (16 Occurrences)

Heritages (7 Occurrences)

Courts (59 Occurrences)

Conscience (36 Occurrences)

Attempting (24 Occurrences)

Bits (54 Occurrences)

Division (135 Occurrences)

Opinion (91 Occurrences)

Heritage (435 Occurrences)

Act (204 Occurrences)

Clothing (288 Occurrences)

Desires (151 Occurrences)

Andrew (12 Occurrences)

Fixed (284 Occurrences)

Decisions (133 Occurrences)

Judicial (2 Occurrences)

Reject (56 Occurrences)

Record (71 Occurrences)

Sins (351 Occurrences)

Support (135 Occurrences)

Perfumes (69 Occurrences)

Pastoral

Voice (651 Occurrences)

Rulers (310 Occurrences)

Breastplate (45 Occurrences)

Desire (565 Occurrences)

Fight (265 Occurrences)

Anything (462 Occurrences)

Multitudes (72 Occurrences)

Esther (48 Occurrences)

Chaldaeans (65 Occurrences)

Approval (75 Occurrences)

Value (138 Occurrences)

Disgusting (149 Occurrences)

Blow (124 Occurrences)

Position (189 Occurrences)

Pulled (84 Occurrences)

Canon

Myself (395 Occurrences)

Innocent (97 Occurrences)

Control (88 Occurrences)

Cross (157 Occurrences)

Decision: Exhibited in Blessedness of
Top of Page
Top of Page