How Jesus made big decisions

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Leviticus 6:1-7:27
Mark 3:7-30
Psalm 37:1-11
Proverbs 10:3-4


BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 37:4-5 "Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you."


REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

In this morning's reading, we came across a verse that seemed to have little to reflect on. Here it is:

Mark 3:13-14 "Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles..."

This was the occasion on which Jesus selected the 12 guys that He would disciple for 3 full years. Some of them would write books that would end up in Scripture. Some of them would take leadership roles in the early church. Others are never heard from again in the book of Acts but we assume they were used greatly by God.

Jesus dare not get this wrong. When He chose the 12, He needed to choose wisely.

So, what did Jesus do to enable Him to choose wisely? This is helpful information because we, too, need to make big decisions from time-to-time.

While there are many biblical principles that enable us to make good decisions, here are two:

1. He went to a place to think and reflect.

Mark 3:13 tells us that He "went upon on a mountain." Jesus often went to secluded places (desert, mountain, Garden of Gethsemane, etc.) so that He could be alone and reflect. 

There is much to be said about the spiritual disciplines of silence and solitude. There is a reason for the 4th Commandment where we are encouraged to have one day a week where we do as little work as possible and quiet things down around us. I wonder if the stress levels that so many people struggle with couldn't be greatly diminished by taking time to get away each week. Our brains would certainly be clearer so that we could make better decisions.

2. He spent time in prayer.

While Mark's account doesn't mention prayer, Luke's does:

Luke 6:12-13 "One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles..."

Even Jesus, God with skin on, felt the need to spend all night in prayer before a major decision. If He did this, how much more should we spend time in prayer before making a decision?

For further reading:
A book that is very helpful in revealing how Christians should make decisions is "Decision Making by the Book" by Haddon Robinson. It's an easy, short read and is definitely worth your time.