Poder de decisão
Deus nos deu o poder de escolher. A Bíblia mostra que nossas decisões têm consequências eternas e nos chama a escolher sabiamente — a vida, a fé e o caminho de Deus.
A responsabilidade de escolher
Escolhei hoje a quem servireis. Cada decisão molda nosso destino, e Deus nos convida a escolher o caminho da vida e da obediência.
But if it seemeth evil to you, that ye serve the Lord, choosing is given to you; choose ye to you today that, that pleaseth, whom ye owe most to serve; whether to gods, which your fathers served in Mesopotamia, whether to the gods of Amorites, in whose land ye dwell; forsooth I, and mine house, shall serve the Lord.
And Joshua said to the people, Ye be witnesses, that ye have chosen the Lord to you, that ye serve him. And they answered, We be witnesses.
Therefore, thou house of Israel, I shall deem each man by his ways, saith the Lord God. Turn ye altogether, and do ye penance for all your wickednesses, and wickedness shall not be to you into falling.
Cast away from you all your trespassings, by which ye trespassed, and make ye a new heart and a new spirit to you, and then why shall ye die, the house of Israel?
For I desire not the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God; turn ye again, and live ye.
I know thy works, for neither thou art cold, neither thou art hot; I would that thou were cold, either hot;
but for thou art lukewarm, and neither cold, neither hot, I shall begin to cast [or to vomit] thee out of my mouth.
Decisões e consequências
Deus retribuirá a cada um segundo as suas obras. As Escrituras nos alertam que a mornidão espiritual e a resistência ao Espírito têm consequências sérias.
that shall yield to each man after his works;
soothly to them that be by patience of good work, glory, and honour, and uncorruption, to them that seek everlasting life;
but to them that be of strife, and that assent not to truth, but believe to wickedness, wrath and indignation,
With hard noll, and uncircumcised hearts and ears, ye withstand ever-more the Holy Ghost; and as your fathers, so ye.
Therefore do not ye lose your trust, which hath great rewarding.
For patience is needful to you, that ye do the will of God, and bring again the promise.
For yet a little, and he that is to come shall come, and he shall not tarry.
For my just man liveth of faith; that if he withdraweth himself, he shall not please to my soul.
But we be not the sons of withdrawing away into perdition, but of faith into [the] getting of soul.
Decisão e fé
Decida com fé, entregue seus planos ao Senhor e aja com determinação. Deus guia os passos de quem se achega a Ele de coração.
Lots be sent into the bosom; but they be tempered of the Lord.
Many thoughts there be in the heart of a man; but the will of the Lord shall dwell.
Show thy works to the Lord; and thy thoughts shall be addressed.
The Lord God is mine helper, and therefore I am not shamed; therefore I have set my face as a stone made hard, and I know that I shall not be shamed.
If any man will do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it be of God, or I speak of myself.
And they shall be into a people to me, and I shall be into God to them.
And I shall give to them one heart, and one soul, that they dread me in all days, and that it be well to them, and to their sons after them.
And Peter said to them, Do ye penance, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, into remission of your sins; and ye shall take the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Therefore be ye subject to God; but withstand ye the devil, and he shall flee from you.
Nigh ye to God, and he shall nigh to you. Ye sinners, cleanse ye the hands, and ye double in soul [or ye double of will], purge ye the hearts.