Posted in bible reading, Bible teaching, daily devotion, devotional, discipleship, Faith Journey, Inspiration, motivation, spiritual journey, tagged beiief, choose this day whom you will serve, decision, faith, organ donors, what happens next on January 19, 2016|
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Story of the Day for Tuesday January 19, 2016
What’s Going to Happen Next?
If serving the Lord isn’t desirable to you, then choose right now whom you will serve . . .
Joshua 24:15
Researchers Daniel Goldstein and Eric J. Johnson noticed that several European countries had nearly 100 percent of its citizens voluntarily participating in an organ donor program. Other countries had very few signed up to donate their organs.
Why would some countries have such a high percentage of organ donors while other countries had so few? What do you think?
Most people would conclude that the disparity between the percentage of organ donors is due to culture. If most citizens of a country felt that organ donation was unnatural or banned by one’s religion, that would explain the difference.
But that’s not the reason. Countries sharing similar cultures show a marked contrast. For example, in Sweden 86% signed up for the organ donor program; in Denmark next door, only 4% have done the same. Germany has only 12%, while Austria has almost 100% participation. The Netherlands (after writing to every household in the nation pleading with them to join the organ donor program) has 28%. Belgium, which borders the Netherlands, has 98% of its citizens signed up in an organ donor program.
The stark contrast by nation in organ donor participation can be explained by the Department of Motor Vehicles. When citizens from Denmark, Germany, or the Netherlands renew their drivers licenses, they are asked to check a box if they want to become an organ donor. In Sweden, Austria, and Belgium, drivers are asked to check a box if they DON’T want to become an organ donor.
Both groups tend not to check the box.
The more important an issue becomes, the more we become reluctant to make a decision.
We don’t make decisions to believe. We either believe in the Easter Bunny or we don’t. We either believe or don’t believe that grass grows or that God exists.
But once we believe anything, we must daily make decisions based on what we believe to be true — whether it’s hiding our own Easter eggs, mowing the lawn, or praying.
When God’s people were returning to the Promised Land, Joshua gathered the people at Shechem, and he told them the story of what God had done for them. Joshua reminded them of how the Lord led their forefathers, how God worked with power to liberate them from their slavery in Egypt.
After Joshua convinced the people of the steadfast care of the God of Israel, he called for them to decide: “Choose this day whom you will serve.”
Faith comes first; then decision. You must first believe that diet contributes to good health before you decide to cut down on the lardburgers and fries.
Once you believe in the beauty of the life that Jesus lays before you, you must decide what’s going to happen next.
(text copyright by climbinghigher.org and by Marty Kaarre)
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Story of the Day--climbinghigher 