“What are you guys going to have for breakfast this morning,” Ricky asked as he filled our coffee cups.
“I’m going to have the blueberry pancakes,” I responded.
“Good choice,” Ricky replied. “Cook got in a bunch of very sweet and very plump blueberries from the farm out on Watkins Road. How about you, Stan, what are you going to have?”
“I’m going to make the same choice,” he replied.
“Two orders of blueberry pancakes, coming right up,” Ricky said and then hurried away.
“Did you notice the spiritual significance of what Ricky said,” Stan asked.
“Spiritual significance of blueberry pancakes?” I said. “What spiritual significance?”
“The part where he said, ‘Good choice’,” Stan replied. “Life in general and life with God specifically is all about choice. It’s about what I choose to do in response to what God chose to do. It’s like God made His choice of what to do, now it’s my turn to choose.”
“What did God choose to do?” I asked.
“The answer to that question could fill volumes,” Stan replied, “but I think Jesus gave the answer in one brief phrase that’s recorded in Luke’s gospel.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Luke records that Jesus said to not be afraid for God the Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”
“Chosen gladly to give the kingdom,” I repeated. “That’s quite a phrase!”
“It sure is,” Stan replied. “And it all boils down to whether or not I choose to accept what God has chosen to give. In the first place, God the Father chose to give Jesus the Son so that all who believe in Him can have life eternally with the Father when it’s time.”
“As well,” he continued, “there’s the choice of pursuing the eternal life of knowing God the Father and Jesus the Son on this side of eternity. God has chosen to make that knowledge available, but it’s up to me to choose to pursue it.”
“And is that all part of ‘the kingdom’ that God has chosen to give?” I asked.
“As I see it,” Stan replied, “everything that God has for me to pursue on both sides of eternity is part of ‘the kingdom’ that He has chosen to give. It’s up to me, and it’s up to each one of us, to choose to accept what is freely available. God chose, now it’s our turn to choose!”
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Bible verses to considere:
Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32.
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16.
And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. John 17:3.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for choosing to give all you have given. You chose to give your only begotten Son, you chose to give me the eternal life of knowing you and Jesus, and you chose to give all there is to give about your kingdom. You chose to do all of that, but too often I choose not to accept what you have chosen to give. Please forgive that foolishness. And please, Father, help me to follow every step of your lead in choosing to accept, receive, and embrace all you have chosen to give. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you chosen to accept God’s free and gracious gift of life eternally with Him that He chose to give you? If no, why? What’s standing in the way? If you do have the assurance of spending eternity in His presence, how are you doing with choosing to accept all that God has chosen to give to you on this side of eternity? What does “the kingdom” God has chosen to give look like to you? If you sense you may have failed (and are failing) to choose to accept, receive, and embrace all of the kingdom that God has for you, how is changing that choice going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 