4 Minute Read + Scripture readings
Today’s Bible Reading:
2 Samuel 6
1 Corinthians 16
Ezekiel 14
Psalms 55
Today’s Bible Verse(s):
1 Corinthians 16:8–9 (CSB): “But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, because a wide door for effective ministry has opened for me — yet many oppose me.”
Reflections on Today’s Bible Verse(s):
The way some Christians make decisions has more to do with superstition than it does with the Bible.
For instance, some Christians desire to know God’s will so they “lay out a fleece.” Attempting to be like the Old Testament prophet, they say something like: “Lord, if it’s your will for me to apply for that job, then let my phone ring in the next 10 minutes.”
That’s ludicrous. Nowhere in Scripture do we see someone trying to know God’s will in a God-approved way that does such a thing. Even when Gideon set out the fleece, it was nothing short of a complete miracle. Whether or not a phone rings in a set amount of time is not a miracle.
Next, some people determine God’s will by whether or not He “opens a door.” After all, the reasoning goes, if God opens a door of opportunity, then He must want me to walk through that door, right? That’s what the verse I have chosen for today says, right?
1 Corinthians 16:8–9 (CSB): “But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, because a wide door for effective ministry has opened for me—yet many oppose me.”
Yet, we read in the next letter that Paul sent to Corinth that an open door doesn’t necessarily mean that God’s will has been made clear in the matter.
2 Corinthians 2:12–13 (CSB): “When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord opened a door for me, I had no rest in my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus. Instead, I said good-bye to them and left for Macedonia.
Did you see that? A door of opportunity opened up and Paul didn’t walk through it. Even though the Lord opened that door, it wasn’t necessarily sin for Paul to choose to leave because of his desire to find Titus.
Friends, the way that some Christians make decisions is so unbiblical. They don’t abide by biblical principles that require them to gather information, seek counsel, pray, and take other helpful steps. Instead, they throw caution to the wind and rely upon unbiblical, sometimes bizarre methods in their attempt to know God’s will in a matter.
If you want to read a wonderful book on what the Bible says about developing good decision-making skills, then purchase Haddon Robinson’s book, “Decision Making By the Book.” You can thank me later.
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Lord Jesus, not a day goes by that I don’t need to make some decisions. Help me to come to the right conclusions the way You have set forth in Your Word. The Bible gives me plenty of principles to help me make good decisions. Help me to comply with them. Amen.
Matt’s Musings 