Think! No, pray before you decide!

Have you ever wondered how many decisions you make in a day?

Just think about it for a moment!

There are the obvious ones such as what to wear, to eat and what work needs to be done first at home, school or what to buy at the supermarket.

I quite enjoy shopping but it seems that there needs to be some decision making before a product goes into the trolley.

I need some milk but shall I buy full milk, skimmed milk, semi-skimmed.

Maybe I’ll try goats milk or long life Argh! Decisions, decisions, decisions.

There are way too many Breakfast cereals to choose from and which newspaper do I read over Breakfast, the Mail, the Mirror, Express, Telegraph, Sun, Star, Times, Observer, Guardian or the Western Mail.

Now, these decisions are not life-changing or even monumental but are an important part of our daily lives.

However, what about those "defining moment" decisions?

What about the seemingly grey-area decisions that affect our walk with Jesus, and more importantly affect the people around us that may be less mature spiritually or even just spiritual seekers?

Christian Youth all over the world are wearing these "WWJD" (What Would Jesus Do?) bracelets.

That’s a great question to ask before making any decisions. Now, "what would Jesus do," in this situation. If only the answer was as clear!

Maybe its’because the answer I get isn’t always what I want to hear.

In 1 Corinthians chapter 10, three principles jumped out at the reader of God’s Word.

1 Corinthians 10:24 (NASB) Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbour.

Here the Apostle Paul is saying, Live unselfishly! Don't live just to satisfy yourself, but to seek good for your neighbour. To put it simply, "Love God, Love People."

We are all doing the Lord's business 24 hours a day, and folks, the Lord grants no holiday time from His business.

1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (TLB) When we ask the Lord's blessing upon our drinking from the cup of wine at the Lord's Table, this means, doesn't it, that all who drink it are sharing together the blessing of Christ's blood?

And when we break off pieces of the bread from the loaf to eat there together, this shows that we are sharing together in the benefits of his body. No matter how many of us there are, we all eat from the same loaf, showing that we are all parts of the one body of Christ.

The Lords says that we must maintain our unity and witness in living for Christ. God calls us to be separate from the world, to be holy.

Now God does not call us to be monks or hermits, living away from the lost sheep in the world. Rather, God expects us to be His light and His salt.

Salt on its’ own stuck in the kitchen cupboarddoes nothing, it must get alongside of the food to make a difference.

So should we. We must develop relationships with our un-churched neighbours, co-workers, co-students, etc.

However, we must never compromise our fellowship with the Cross. We commune with Christ; we communicate with the world.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (NASB) Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

So, whatever you do, not some of the things we do, but every time you do something, do it to the glory of God.

We should have a single-minded focus on glorifying God in all that we do.

That is our purpose in life in a nutshell, to bring glory to God.

So what are the three questions we should ask ask ourselves in addition to "WWJD," before making a decision?

1. Is what I am about to do a stumbling block to other people?

Are your actions going to cause someone around me to have a reason to slam Christianity?

Are your actions going to cause a young Christian to question the value of Christianity? The biggest beef non-Christians have against us is that we are just a bunch of hypocrites. Let's don't prove them right. 2. Can I ask the blessing of Jesus Christ on this action? Can you honestly pray to Jesus and say, "Lord bless this action I am about to take?" For lack of a better example, let's say you are on a business trip, and your client wants to take you somewhere that you know s not suitable place for a Christian.

Can you ask Jesus to bless that? No, a thousand times No! 3. Can I do this and glorify God? Will this decision honour God or dishonour God? Will you be upholding the family name of being a Christ-follower by making this decision in this manner? So, three questions for all major decisions. My prayer for you is to apply these questions to your life and honestly answer them as you feel the Spirit leading you. Decisions, decisions, decisions... what would Jesus do? Pray this prayer Father, we praise You and honour You on Sundays. Help us to bring glory and honor to you Monday through Sunday, twenty-four hours a day. Forgive us for sometimes completely missing the mark, for dishonouring You, and for causing others to stumble and for doing things the Jesus would never bless. Father, help us to be sensitive to all our decisions and how they affect You. Lord, thank You for this wonderful road map for our lives called the Bible, and mostly we thank You for Your Son Jesus, who took our place on that Cross, so that we may live. In His name, Amen.