CHOOSING THE GOOD
Dear brethren,
Ps 34:11-14 says:
11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. NKJV
This Scripture calls for making a choice between good and evil. God is a good God and He invites us to choose the good.
3 John 11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. KJV
To follow means to seek after, look for, choose, pursue, imitate etc. This is written to believers. The enemy deceives people that they have no choice. But every one has a choice. If you look for bad, you will find it. If you look for trouble, you’ll find it. For example: you can find anything on the internet 24/7; good and bad. If you look for pornography, you’ll find it. If you look for illegal drugs, you’ll find them. But praise God you can make a choice to seek good and you’ll find it too. If you look for the Word of God, you’ll find it and you can do it. You can keep your tongue from evil and you will see good. I for one choose to look for the good and banish all evil. Look at the Amplified version of the above verse:
3 John 11 Beloved, do not imitate evil, but imitate good. He who does good is of God; he who does evil has not seen (discerned or experienced) God [has enjoyed no vision of Him and does not know Him at all]. AMP
People who constantly choose evil over good have this about them: they don’t know God. If you’re constantly choosing evil over good, you didn’t get that from God. There is no evil in Him. You’ve been looking at something else and not God. There are so many other Scriptures that remind us to choose good. Look at these few examples:
1 Thess. 5:15, 21 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
Amos 5:14-15 Seek good and not evil, That you may live; So the LORD God of hosts will be with you, As you have spoken. 15 Hate evil, love good . . . NKJV
God has given human beings a free will to choose. Throughout your lifetime, you will be given opportunities to choose. The more you practice choosing good, the more you will train your soul (mind, will and emotions) to choose between good and evil. The more you mature in the things of God, the more you find yourself choosing what’s right. Heb. 5:13-14 says: But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. NKJV
Brethren, become of full age, full of goodness discerning between good and evil and choosing the good. As a result, you will enjoy a long life (many days) and see good things happen to you.
