“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.”
John 5:30 ESV
I don’t make good choices on my own. I need guidance. On my own, I eat more than I should. On my own, I react to stressful situations with frustration and impatience. On my own, I choose the shiny object over the dull yet dependable.
In the verse above, Jesus is speaking, and if you read the previous verses, you’ll find that Jesus proclaims that God the Father has handed judgment over to Jesus. And here, Jesus declares that His judgment is just because He 1) Listens to the Father, 2) seeks the will of the Father, and 3) acts upon the will of the One who sent Him.
We can use this verse to help us when decision time rolls around and we must make a judgment call. This is our example to follow, and it holds true whether that judgment is about what to eat, what action to take (or not take), who to trust, or how to respond to another person.
First, we remember that we can’t do anything on our own. If Jesus didn’t, what makes us think we can? Acknowledging our inability to make the best decision then opens the door for us to seek counsel from the One who knows all things.
Our second step is to set aside our own will and ask God for His divine wisdom. We turn to Him and tune out the distractions of the voices in our own heads and in the world around us. Find a quiet spot where you can simply say, “God, I don’t know what to do. Please make this decision for me.” And then listen to what He says.
Finally, as God makes His will clear, He will send us to implement His instructions. And we’ll likely need to repeat these steps again as we move through this “sending” process.
And now that the time to act has come, we must make our final choice. Who will we allow to send us? Will we step forward in God’s will and let Him be our sender? Or will we allow our self-will, fear, or insecurities send us in another direction?
I’ve certainly been guilty of the latter. But I know God will not give up on me and that if I keep asking, He’ll keep sending. Eventually, I’ll understand that no matter the decision, letting God be the sender is ALWAYS the best decision.
Can we take this conversation to a tough spot? It’s easy to talk about this for decisions like the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the people we allow into our inner circle. But more importantly, we must apply this to the moral, ethical, and spiritual choices we make. And this is tough because it will require us to go against the flow of society. Surrendering judgment to Jesus and acting upon His will makes us stand out and can create friction.
When all our friends are going out getting drunk, we choose to stay sober. When sexual promiscuity is applauded, we choose to abstain and wait until marriage. When individual “truths” are touted as the peak of human enlightenment, we speak the eternal, unchanging Truth of God.
The world holds up lies, half-truths, and misconceptions as the standard to follow; we are called to live by the true and just judgments of Jesus Christ. Choosing to be a Jesus-follower means allowing God to send us as ambassadors of His will, love, and, yes, judgments.
Right and wrong exist. Good and evil are present in this world. Truth and lies battle for dominion in our minds and hearts. Only Jesus can give us the discernment to make good judgments in this chaotic, ever-changing world.
We can’t do this on our own. Judgment belongs to Christ, will we let God be the One who sends us? Or will we surrender to the will of the world so we fit in?
Father, thank you for your just judgments and for granting us access to You so we can walk in Your will. Fill us with Your Spirit so we can discern Your will in all situations. Help us see the world through Your eyes so we can be ambassadors for You. Send us with Your love, truth, wisdom, judgment, and light so that others may see You and be saved. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Spread the spark of hope everywhere you go,
Michelle
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I want to follow Jesus! How do I get started?
“This is how we know that we live in Him and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.
1 John 4:13-15
If you are ready to join the family of God, simply believe and ask. You can choose your own words or pray the prayer below. God hears your heart, simply confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and let the Spirit lead you.
“Father, I want to be yours. Forgive me of my sins. I believe that you sent Your Son, Jesus Christ, to die in my place. I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior and thank you for the gift of salvation through Him. I invite the Holy Spirit into my heart and surrender my life to You. In Jesus name, Amen.”
Feel free to spend time just talking to God and sharing your heart with Him. Let Him speak to you and listen as He leads you forward into new life. Welcome to the family.
Need to talk or have questions? Feel free to reach out and contact me.