WEDNESDAY'S WORD - DECISIVE - Sadell Bradley - 04/05/17 New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"It is better to be boldly decisive and risk being wrong than to agonize at length and be right too late." - Marilyn Moats Kennedy

I'm embarking on the New York Times bestselling book, Decisive - "How to make better choices in life and work," by Chip and Dan Heath. I'm excited because decisiveness has not always been my strong suit.  I make decisions all the time in many contexts. Usually they're good thank God. Most would probably call me a decisive person. However, when it comes to large life altering decisions, I procrastinate. My Strengths-Finder gift of what they term 'intellection' makes me overthink. Or, I've had a "Que serah, serah. Whatever will be will be," disposition, which only works sometimes. DECISIVE means settling an issue, or producing a definite result, one who has the ability to make decisions quickly and effectively.

God warned the Israelites before they entered the promised land, to be decisive about following Him wholeheartedly and not straying to other gods. "Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life so that you and your descendants will live!"  On the brink of entry, Joshua reiterated, "choose today whom you will serve...as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15)

Why is it so hard for some of us to be decisive? especially when we know the decision could have life altering consequences. Earlier this year, I wrote about the millennial phenomenon FOMO - Fear of Missing Out.  Certainly fear is a great part of the reason. For many it's just the fear of being wrong: in timing, direction or relationship. When dealing with a situation over which we've long procrastinated, we may wonder "What difference does it make if I'm decisive about it now? It's been lingering so long." All of us have at times been indecisive about God's instructions...but that's really rebellion. Someone needs to just make a decision today.

As we approach Palm Sunday, I'm always struck by Jesus' decisiveness in the most difficult situation ever known.  He comes into Jerusalem on the new colt. Everyone is worshiping Him, crying out, "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!" and laying their cloaks and palm branches at His feet. (Matthew 21:1-11) All of this pageantry and spectacle came as a result of a decision Jesus had made long before.  He decided to redeem mankind of our sin and wrongdoing through the shedding of His blood at Calvary. The decision had been made, but it was hard, even for Jesus to follow through with it. At the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed that God would somehow let the cup of suffering pass from Him. (Matthew 26:39) Though he could have called legions of angels to save Him when the guards took Him away, He did not. (Matthew 26:53) At any time, even on the Cross itself, He could have halted the whole process. It didn't matter, He knew what He was to do. As the song says, "He would not come down from the Cross just to save Himself. He decided to die just to save (you) and me." Sometimes we have to be decisive, even when it costs us.

SUNDAY Worship 11:00 AM Worship The Great Room Sunday Class 9:30 AM Youth Room Basement at Wyoming Presbyterian 225 Wyoming Ave., 45215 For information 513-212-1131