Date: 01/30/2023

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to Him be the Glory, Power, and Dominion forever and ever and to the Holy Ghost that is yet abiding in the body. This month’s key phrase is from the 2023 Proclamation: Being Obedient is the Key. This week’s message looks at Today’s Choices and Making the Wrong Choices.

Today’s Choice: The Promised Land for the Israelites was an earthly one. But today’s Promised Land is a spiritual one, eternal life! Even so, obedience still yields blessings for us as we live our lives today. We can be blessed in many ways while on earth. These blessings are individual and too numerous to name. With this good news, man, (mankind), today has a choice. Take note of Jesus’ response when the rich young ruler asked Him what he must do to have eternal life. He said, “And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17). Notice the word “if” which represents a condition. If we obey God, we will have eternal life. It also indicates that we can or cannot chose to obey. Here is another one, “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me” (John 14-23-24). Many say that they love God and His Son but still disobey. If we really love Jesus, we must obey His Words. I cannot think of anybody else I would rather have in my home!

Making the Wrong Choice: ( Sinning because we are deceived or despite knowing better (Adam and Eve), choosing to serve Satan instead of God), running with the wrong crowd, depraved thinking ( Judas betrayal of Jesus), turning away from God (rejecting God). Until Jesus returns man, (mankind), will always have a choice and if the choice is to follow Christ, let us hold on to the faith that we profess. The Scriptures offer encouragement with this. “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,  By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised” (Hebrews 19:19-23).  The choice we make is not necessarily the final one. Free will allows us to change in either direction, to follow Jesus or not. However, we are warned against drawing back in the Scriptures. “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:26-31).   

In closing, The Bible is given to us for our learning so that we can make choices and avoid bad consequences so that we can enjoy the blessings and fellowship of God. As believers, there are two main choices: Trusting Christ as our Savior and learning to become like Him by following the leading of the Holy Spirit. Both have eternal consequences. Therefore, we must remember that every choice has a consequence. The key phrase for the month of February will be Endurance. Until then, remember, “…with God all things are possible”.

In His Service,

Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem

General Chief Overseer/Senior Bishop