Choosing to Do Right

Posted on February 10, 2010 by
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Choosing to do the right thing can sometimes be difficult.  There are many different criteria that may affect our decisions.  Sometimes it may take us some effort to determine what the right thing is.  Sometimes it may just take some effort for us to implement what we know to be the right thing!  Many may continue to practice sin under the guise of trying to figure out what the right thing to do is!  I want you to think about some of the things that might help us all to choose to do right, and eschew evil (1 Peter 3:11).

First, determine to act righteously in general.  Acting in the right manner doesn’t happen by accident.  It takes a conscious effort to commit to being faithful to God.  That effort must be put forth each and every day.  We cannot let our guard down, or else Satan will take advantage of our lack of preparation.  He is always out and about, looking for the perfect opportunity to cause us to stumble.The decision to “do the right thing” shouldn’t be made on a case by case basis.  Instead, we should make a daily commitment to do what is right.  Then, when the specific decisions have to be made, we have already determined that we will do what the Lord wants us to do!

Second, stop being selfish!  Lets face it, most of the time when we make the decision to do wrong, it is for purely selfish reasons.  We want to participate in something that God has forbidden, so we make the choice to be disobedient.  If we are able to put God first, rather than ourselves, then the decision to do right becomes much easier!  Instead of seeking to fulfill our own lusts, our own desires, we must put God and His will first in our lives.  The example of Moses as cited by the writer of Hebrews illustrates this point well.  Consider Hebrews 11:24-26:

By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

Moses had the opportunity to have all that his heart desired, physically.  But, he chose do what was right, and serve God.  He was able to look beyond the “passing pleasures of sin,” which is the difficulty for many people today!

Third, realize that it is often not the determination of what is right that is difficult, but the practicing of that which we have determined to be right.  Sometimes we may truly struggle with figuring out what the righteous thing to do is.  But, that is not usually the case.  Most of the time, we can quickly identify what is right.  More often we struggle with implementing what we know to be the right thing.  We may try to hide behind the façade that we believe we are acceptable in our sin, but we know in our hearts that God is not going to accept our tainted service!

Often, making the right choices comes down to a matter of dedication to God.  Are we devoted enough to Him to do what He asks?  Or are we going to be devoted to our own selfish desires?  Which is more important?  We may say with our lips that God is at the top of our priority list, but do we show that in our practices?  When we choose to please ourselves, rather than please God, then we are putting ourselves in that top spot of our priority list!

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)

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