What Choice Am I To Make As A Christian

THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Luke 9:22-25

Today’s readings are so vivid, and alive in describing the euphoria of the time and season of lent we had just begun yesterday.; the season of Lent. The lenten season is a season of hope. The hope we journey with is Christ himself. Christ is our hope when we fast. Christ our example as we pray, Christ is love shared among us and Christ our hope who rises in beauty after taking up the cross and was crucified on it died, and rose again. Eternal life is in Christ Jesus and those who believe and follow Him, He saves.

In the first reading, Moses is drawing our attention to the power of free will that God has infused in every human soul. It is the power of freedom. Moses is offering us a choice to make; life or death; prosperity or doom. The choice is to obey God’s commands.

In Exodus Chapter 40, we see that God leads and guides his people. He leads and guides them by his commands and they were in his presence throughout their journey, the glory of the Lord filled the Tent of meeting. they were led and guided by the pillar of clouds by day and a pillar of fire by night on the Tabernacle.

The people did not know the promised land. It was God who was bringing them to the land of promised based on their faithfilness to his commands. God wants to lead and guide and he does leads and guides us. Do you want to be led and guided in obedience to the Lord’s commands?

We are a people of hope. We need hope in our lives. For us to be sure of hope as disciples of Christ. We must remember this first ingredient of faith as a disciple in Jesus Christ that He himself tells us in today’s gospel; “Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.”

First and foremost, it is difficult to deny oneself but the key to life is self-emptying. Doing things in service for the sake of others. Doing less for ourselves and doing more for others. The simple things we do i.e. Doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way. Unless a seed of grain dies matt 12:24

Secondly, Jesus tells us to take up our cross. One is to know one’s cross and another thing is to have the capacity, the strength to carry till the end. Do you know your cross? What is the area of struggle in our lives? Where lies our trials? What strife do you have on your shoulders? We lament our crosses, we often sometimes complain about them but blessed is he who knows his cross, takes it up and follows the footsteps of the Master.

Thirdly, we are uniquely made to follow Jesus. When we follow Jesus, we will start seeing amazing things happening to us. a lot of things will surprise us. We shall be guided by the Spirit of God then grace and favor will journey with us till we enter our reward in heaven. Such a beautiful scenario is my appeal to you today for you to receive the Lord’s invitation with great acknowledgment and gratitude.

Take a few moments today to think about the gift of discipleship that God has given to you? Think about the power of freedom in you? The power of choice to choose rightly as God wills it? where you might need to grow spiritually this Lent? Plans to improve your spiritual development during this year’s Lenten journey? Do I have many many choices that it is difficult for me to choose in the right manner?

Who you are today is because of the choices you made yesterday and who you would be tomorrow is a result of today’s choices. Choose today what you will be happy with tomorrow for choice is the chisel that we use to sculpt our lives. Before Christ choose his disciples, he went into prayer when we are about to make certain decisions in our lives let us meet God in the Tent of meeting and we shall be touched by his cloud and inflamed by His spirit.

Where lies our hope? Our hope lies in Denying ourselves, takes up our crosses and following Jesus. Here lies true Christian hope. We might feel that following Jesus must hard; a hard decision to make. This does not mean that we are free form suffering. It will have meaning if we see it in the light of the will of God. Be lead by peace that surpasses all understanding. Choose so that you can have peace tomorrow. As I begin Lent, Lord, assist me to focus and center my life on you more fully so that at the end of our earthly journey, we will reign with him forever in heaven. Amen.

Fr Joseph Osho