Vehicle with its left directional signal activated. Front and side turn signals are visibly illuminated. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Some people go to the store to shop for specific items.  They never leave with anything they didn’t plan to purchase before they arrived.  There aren’t many of these kind of people however.  Most people go to the store for one or two items in mind.  But in the course of shopping they are enticed into purchases they didn’t plan on.  They let themselves be directed by marketing.  Regardless our integrity as we go shopping we are, none-the-less, choosers.

The same is true in every aspect of life.  Do we choose to go to bed when we know we should?  Or do we stay up too late to face the next day rested?  Do we speak words that we know shouldn’t be spoken, or do we let it fly as our whimsical heart desires?   When we do our jobs, do we give it all that is true or do we only do enough to get by unnoticed.  Do we strive to fit in with the crowd or do we hate socially proper etiquette enough to do what is right, regardless how they taunt us to be like everyone else?

God has set us here to choose between His ways, our ways, and the ways of His enemy.  He says plainly that to choose any way but His is to be His enemy.  And, sadly, we all seem to choose to be His enemy far too often.  There is grace to cover our foolish and ignorant ways.  But we are encouraged to cease relying on grace alone to live out our lives in a willing obedience to His ways.  He tells us  “Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.”  (Psalm 32:9)  But He allows us to choose our attitudes.

People build their own version of God’s commands.  And some rely on a strict code of obedience in their lives.  Our choices are laid out clearly enough, however.  Do we obey because we agree that Good is good?  Or do we obey because we fear punishment?  Perhaps we don’t even try to obey God because we simply don’t agree that His way is perfectly good and right.

Most drivers will turn on the turn signal long enough for one blink.  And they do this after they have begun to make their change of direction.  This isn’t obedience to the spirit of the law.  This is simply a nod toward the law.  The turn signal is there to tell others what you intend to do.  It is a warning for them that you’re about to make a change in the direction of your travel.  Look at how you treat this law.  Do you care about the others around you enough to develop a habit of use?   Or are you simply trying to avoid a ticket?  Turn on the signal a while before you make any moves, then you have obeyed the spirit of the law.

In the same way, we obey God’s commands so that we don’t hurt anyone.  We don’t obey so that we will receive praise.  We don’t obey so that we will gain eternal life.  We are to live out our lives in such a manner as to avoid harm to anyone, even God or ourselves.  Obedience is a choice we make every second of every day, and that for eternity.  We are to develop an attitude that looks for things in our lives that injure others (regardless how slight the offence).

Grace is provided as we seek His ways.  Grace is extended to all who turn from their selfish ways and seek the inclusive and harmless ways of God.  We show Him we care about what is good.  And He responds with the strength, wisdom, knowledge, and desire to serve what is pure and truly eternal.

Some people pick God’s things and ways apart, looking for the parts of it that make them look good or cause them happiness.  God says, take it all and apply everything you can.  What you lack I will supply with generosity.  We are all choosers.  Let’s not be a picker.