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Nathan Martin
For the past few weeks a group in our church has been working
through Rick Warren’s book, “The
Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For?”. It’s been a
challenging and spiritually refreshing time as we are brought back
to the basics of faith in many areas and are pushed to live a
focused life on our true purposes. Everyone who has been involved
has been positively affected and I highly recommend the book for
personal or group use.
On Day 12 Warren makes a comment that my flesh doesn't like
because it hits so close to home. On page 92 he opens the chapter
entitled “Developing Your Friendship With God” by saying, “You are
as close to God as you choose to be.” Ouch!
 It's interesting
Warren didn't write, "You are as close to God as you WANT to be."
Wanting and choosing are two different things. I "want" to go to
Europe and Hawaii someday. I want to visit Israel. I want to eat
lots and lots of chocolate. I want a lot of things. But I make
choices and I have what I choose. Therefore, I am as close to God as
I choose to be.
My dad has often said, "People do what they want to do." That
saying expresses the same idea. We make our choices. And we
shouldn't be too upset when we get what we've chosen.
My wife and I were recently discussing sending one of our
daughters to a Christian school. We’ve home-schooled for three years
but we want to provide each child with an educational experience
that is individually suited for her. As we discussed this
possibility the question of how to pay the tuition came up. We
decided that if this was the direction God had for us, He would
provide. But part of His provision may be that we make some
lifestyle changes in order to make our “choice” a reality. There may
be several small choices we make to provide our daughter with what
we feel is best.
As I look at my spiritual life I ask myself what kind of choices
am I making? Am I choosing to be close to God privately as well as
publicly? Am I choosing to be close to the Lord when no one else is
looking?
The more I think about it the more I realize that often the
little choices are what make the difference. It’s not the public
commitments in a crowded stadium of Christians that will deepen my
spiritual walk. It’s the choice to not hit the snooze button on the
alarm clock. It's the choice to get up to spend time with the Lord.
It’s the choice to ignore the distractions and praise Him anyhow. So
many little choices that add up to a huge difference.
Do you remember the story of Martha and Mary? Jesus said that
Mary had "chosen the good part." In
Psalm 119:173 David calls on the Lord to help him because, as he
said, "I have chosen Your precepts." In Moses' final discourse to
the children of Israel he said, "Choose life in order that you may
live." In
Isaiah 56 God made special promises to those who "choose what
pleases Me".
The scripture is full of admonitions for us to make right
choices. I’m challenged to reconsider the little choices in my life.
I am as close to God as I choose to be. What am I choosing? How
about you?
[NOTE: This article was based on a
devotion written by Nathan for the
CCI-DEVO
online devotional group. The
CCI-DEVO group
can be found online at:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cci-devo/
. The "Purpose
Driven Life" is available through Amazon at:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0310205719/cci-20
Christian Challenge receives a small referral fee for books bought
using the link above.]
Nathan Martin is the Associate Pastor of Christian Challenge and
the director of the School for Christian Workers. He served four
years as a missionary to southern Mexico before returning to
minister with his father at CCI. He oversees the worship and
technology ministries and teaches the High School group along with
his wife Lori. They have three daughters, Joi, Faith and Hope.
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As
Close As You Choose