The choices we make make us!

Luke 19:41-44

As Jesus came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. 42 “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. 43 Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. 44 They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not accept your opportunity for salvation.”

Food for thought!

Jesus' lament!

As Jesus came to a turn in the road and got sight of Jerusalem with the whole city fully displayed ahead of him, he suddenly stopped and started to weep over Jerusalem. He knew what was going to happen to the city that he was seeing. The Jews had embarked upon a path, which could only end in the destruction of Jerusalem. This happened in the year A.D. 70. The tragedy was that if only they had abandoned their ways and taken the way of Christ it need never have happened.

This means that the choices we make make us; it means that we are where we are because of our choices. Like the Jews, we are what we are because of the choices we made in the past. This is why Jesus is lamenting: because the Jews chose not to accept the opportunity for salvation. Yes, the choices we make in the end make us, and if those choices are bad, they make Jesus cry, because he sees already their future consequences.

Wherever you’re at in your spiritual life, family life, or financial life is the result of choices you’ve made in the past. To get to a better place in the future you must begin making better choices now. Try it.

Margaret Jansen once said, "Our character today is a result of our choices yesterday. Our character tomorrow will be a result of our choices today. To change your character, change your choices. Day by day, what you think, what you choose, and what you do is who you become.”

I like John Maxwell's advice: Write down the incidents, circumstances, choices, and habits that have helped to create your character until now. Try to list everything you can think of. How many of the things on the list are beyond your control, and how many are the result of actions you took or choices you made? If many of the things you list are due to circumstances and other things beyond your control, then you need to take greater control of your life. Start by making a choice every day that will strengthen your character, your family, your finances. (Note: these kinds of choices usually involve doing things you would rather not do.)