This holiday season, we will all face a multitude of opportunities. Opportunities to do good to others, opportunities to be selfish, opportunities to do good things for those that we love and those that we don’t necessarily like.
One of the best things that I learned when I worked in Recovery Ministry was to ask myself the question, “What is the best thing you can do in this situation?” The situations always varied, but the question applied the same.
What I liked so much about this particular question was that it caused me to examine my choices, and upon examination, I saw that making choices is a lot more complicated than just right vs wrong.
For instance, in most situations, there will be a variety of choices. There may be a neutral choice, a good choice, a better choice, a best choice. There may be a poor choice, a worse choice and a worst choice as well.
In the Book of Matthew, chapter 16, Jesus asks His disciples a question,
15…“But who do you say that I am?”
A very neutral answer would be, “You are a man from Nazareth.”
A good answer would be, “You are a prophet.”
A better answer would be, “You are a prophet and a priest.”
Peter didn’t often say the best thing, but this was his brightest moment and he gave the best answer when he replied,
16…“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
This example deals with a verbal response, but the principle can be applied to any situation. For instance, consider, what is a good choice when I see my brother or sister in Christ in need? What is a better choice? What is the best choice? What is a poor choice?
In this holiday season, you have many opportunities do things and to say things. Take a moment, before you speak or don’t speak, before you take action, or take no action to ask yourself the question, “What is the best thing I can say or do in this particular instance?”
A better way to ask the same question: “What can I say or do in this instance that will honor God most and prove my love for my neighbor?”
Let’s make the most of our opportunities!
Much love!
Wes LeFlore (918) 607-8489 or huskerwes1@gmail.com
