Choices that Shape Us

As human beings, our choices shape and form us into the people we are. With every decision, we are not just acting; we are becoming. This is why it is crucial to have high expectations for the younger generation and to encourage them to make choices that lead to maturity and responsibility. For Christians, this is especially significant, as we are called to become a different kind of people—a people who reflect the character of Christ.

The Apostle Paul reminds us of this transformative journey in Colossians 3:1-4, where he urges us to set our minds on heavenly things rather than earthly things. Similarly, in Galatians 5:16-26, he calls us to walk by the Spirit, not by the flesh. This walk involves living humbly, putting others ahead of ourselves, as seen in Philippians 2:1-11. These are not just isolated commands but reflections of the characteristics of Kingdom people—people who embody the values of God’s Kingdom.

Greg Boyd, in his book Satan and the Problem of Evil, offers an insightful perspective on this idea. He writes:

“Moral culpability is not just about people acting certain ways when they could have and should have acted differently. It’s more about people becoming certain kinds of people when they could have and should have become different kinds of people” (p. 122).

This quote challenges us to think beyond actions and behaviors and instead focus on identity and transformation. The Gospel calls us not just to do good but to become good—to be transformed by the renewing of our minds and hearts (Romans 12:2). As Christians, we are called to encourage others to become different kinds of people, ones who are shaped by the power of the Gospel and reflect Christ in all they do.

The Path to Becoming Kingdom People

How do we help others on this journey of becoming people who represent King Jesus in all that we say and do? Here are three key steps:

1. Proclaim the Way of Redemption
   Transformation begins with Jesus. As Paul writes in Romans 5:6-11, it is through God’s love and intervention that we are saved. Without God’s grace, we would have no hope. The message of redemption is central to becoming Kingdom people. By pointing others to Jesus and His sacrifice, we help them understand that real change starts with faith in Him.

2. Pray for Transformation
   The Apostle Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1:9-12 is a model for us. He prays that believers would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will and spiritual wisdom, so they might live lives worthy of the Lord. Our prayers for those we influence can have a powerful impact. Through prayer, we invite God to work in their lives, guiding them to become people who honor Him.

3. Provide Tools for Training in Godliness
   Transformation requires discipline. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 4:7, “Train yourself for godliness.” Spiritual disciplines such as meditation, prayer, worship, service, fasting, solitude, and celebration are tools that help us train our bodies and minds to resist the pull of the flesh and follow the Spirit. Teaching others these disciplines equips them to grow in their faith and character.

A Life of Becoming

Each of us is in the process of becoming. We are either growing more fit for God’s Kingdom or becoming more aligned with the kingdom of darkness. Our choices play a pivotal role in this process. As Christians, we have the responsibility to encourage and guide others toward making choices that reflect the character of Christ. By proclaiming the Gospel, praying for transformation, and teaching spiritual disciplines, we can help others become Kingdom people who shine as lights in the world.

Let us remember that our calling is not just to act differently but to be different—to become the kind of people who embody the love, humility, and holiness of Christ. This is the essence of our faith and the heart of our mission as followers of Jesus.

3 Actions for Making Wise Decisions

Our lives are shaped by the choices we make. Big decisions—like whether to marry or pursue a career—often steal the spotlight, but it’s the small, everyday choices that quietly steer our course. Together, these decisions—grand and mundane—form the map of our existence. Since every choice matters, we need a reliable foundation for making wise ones. Thankfully, Scripture offers exactly that.

Jesus teaches this truth vividly in Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT):

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

Here, Jesus ties wisdom to a life rooted in His words—a foundation strong enough to weather any storm. This echoes His Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:1-23, where the “good soil” represents those who hear, understand, and bear fruit from God’s Word. The entire Bible, as the voice of Jesus, provides the wisdom we need for decision-making. But how do we build this foundation? From Jesus’ teachings, we can distill three essential actions: Listen, Believe, and Change.

1. Listen to Jesus

Listening isn’t passive hearing—it’s an active choice. We all hear the noise of life with functioning ears, but listening means tuning out distractions to focus on what matters. In Matthew 13:9, Jesus urges, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” Reading the Bible isn’t enough; we must approach it eager to grasp God’s intent and apply it to our lives. Like the disciples who sought clarity on the parable (Matthew 13:10), we should dig into Scripture with purpose, asking: What is God saying, and how does it shape my choices today?

2. Believe Jesus

Listening alone doesn’t build the foundation—belief brings it to life. In Matthew 13:18-23, Jesus explains that only the “good soil” truly receives the Word, understanding and trusting it. The foolish hear Jesus but dismiss Him—unconvinced of His identity as God’s Son or the truth of His words. Without belief, His teaching stays theoretical, never touching their decisions. The wise, however, trust Jesus fully. They see Him as the cornerstone of truth, and this faith guides their choices. Belief turns words on a page into a living compass for life’s big and small moments.

3. Change the Way We Live

Belief demands action. In Matthew 7, the wise don’t just hear—they obey. In Matthew 13:23, the good soil “produces a crop”—fruitful change that proves trust in Jesus. This step is where faith gets real: adjusting our lives to align with His will, even when it clashes with the world’s ways. The foolish hear but stay unchanged, like seed choked by thorns (Matthew 13:22)—distracted by worries or wealth. The wise let Jesus’ words reshape their priorities, habits, and decisions. Change shouts our trust louder than words ever could.

Living It Out

Every day, we face a barrage of choices—some snap decisions, others weighty deliberations. In our fast-paced world, we rarely have time to mull every option. That’s why a solid foundation matters. By listening to Jesus, believing His truth, and changing our lives to match it, we root ourselves in God’s Word. This isn’t just theory—it’s practical wisdom for navigating life.

Without this bedrock, we’re tossed by the shifting winds of culture and circumstance. With it, we stand firm, no matter the storm. The Parable of the Sower reminds us that God’s Word is a seed with transformative power—but only if we’re good soil. So, what kind of soil are you? The choice to listen, believe, and change starts today—and it’s a decision that shapes all the rest.

Lessons from the King: Don’t Worry

 

The Struggle Between Earthly and Heavenly Priorities

Imagine sorting your life into three categories: rubber, metal, and glass. Tim Sanders, former chief solutions officer at Yahoo! and author of Love Is the Killer App, uses this analogy to explain how we handle life’s ups and downs. Rubber things—like missing a Seahawks game—bounce back with little fuss. Metal things—like missing an important meeting—clang loudly when dropped, causing temporary chaos but nothing irreparable. Then there’s glass—the irreplaceable treasures like your marriage, family, deepest relationships, and spiritual well-being. When glass shatters, no amount of effort can fully restore it.

The challenge is clear: we all know what’s "glass" in our lives. So, what’s our priority? What’s the one thing we should devote ourselves to, the thing that puts everything else into place? Jesus has been teaching about the heart—our desires, beliefs, thoughts, and will. He’s shown us that the condition of our hearts determines whether we’re citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. At the core of that heart must be faithfulness. Without it, we can’t belong to God’s Kingdom. Today’s text, Matthew 6:19-34, brings this truth into sharp focus.

Last week, we saw how Jesus emphasized motivation over mere actions in spiritual disciplines. If we pray, give, or fast to impress others, we’ve already received our reward. But if we do these things to connect with God and honor Him, He blesses us with answered prayer and a place in His Kingdom. That sets the stage for today’s lesson: trusting God completely. Let’s walk through the text together.

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Storing Up True Treasure (vv. 19-21)

Jesus begins, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” Earthly treasures—money, possessions, status—are temporary. Moths eat them, rust corrodes them, thieves take them. Why spend your life chasing what won’t last? Instead, store up treasures in heaven—love, generosity, kindness, forgiveness—the character traits of Kingdom citizens. These are eternal.

Where your treasure is, Jesus says, there your heart will be. What we value shapes our devotion. Are we truly invested in God’s Kingdom, or are we just paying it lip service? Ask yourself: What’s more important—investments or spiritual maturity?

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A Clear or Clouded Vision (vv. 22-23)

Next, Jesus says, “The eye is the lamp of the body.” Our spiritual perception guides our lives. A healthy eye—one focused generously on God—brings light, helping us see what He values and grow in His character. But an unhealthy eye—stingy and fixated on wealth—plunges us into darkness. Greed blinds us to truth and robs us of the life God intends.

What dominates your vision: God’s Kingdom or worldly wealth?

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The Danger of Divided Devotion (v. 24)

Here’s the heart of the Sermon on the Mount: “No one can serve two masters.” Jesus pits God against money (or "Mammon"). He’s not saying money itself is evil—only that serving it is idolatry. Devotion to wealth competes with devotion to God. When God is in His rightful place, money and possessions fall into theirs. Jesus forces a choice: we’ll love one and despise the other.

So, who rules your heart—God or materialism?

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Overcoming Worry with Trust (vv. 25-32)

Jesus commands, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink.” Worry stems from a lack of trust in God’s provision—the opposite of “Give us today our daily bread.” This doesn’t mean we ignore responsibilities or stop working hard. It means trusting God to provide.

Look at the birds—they don’t fret over food, yet God feeds them. Consider the lilies—they don’t toil, yet God clothes them beautifully. If God cares for them, how much more will He care for us, His children? Worry is futile—it doesn’t add a day to our lives. Worse, it’s what pagans do. Kingdom citizens trust God instead.

Does your worry reveal a heart not fully trusting Him?

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The Key to True Security: Seeking God’s Kingdom (vv. 33-34)

“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you.” That’s the antidote to worry. Prioritize God’s will—live by faith, trust, holiness, and disciple-making—and He’ll meet your needs, often through His people, the church. Align your life with His purposes, and trust Him daily.

Don’t be consumed by tomorrow—God’s got it covered. Shift your focus: seek God first, and let Him handle the rest.

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Who Do You Trust?

Jesus didn’t just teach this—He lived it. He surrendered everything to the Father, even His life on the cross, so we could become Kingdom citizens. We’re called to trust God to mature us, guide us, and provide for us. The Kingdom of Heaven is better than the reality we know now, and God will supply what we need if we stop worrying about the details.

It’s easy to say we trust God, but our focus—what we pursue—and our worries—what we dwell on—reveal the truth. How do we grow in trust? Through spiritual disciplines: prayer, gratitude, and meditating on Scripture.

Here’s the challenge:

Surrender your worries and seek God first. Examine what concerns you, confess it to God, ask Him to build your trust, and then do your part—handle your responsibilities while leaving the rest to Him.

We can’t serve two masters. Citizens of the Kingdom trust God with their treasures, needs, and future because He’s the only Master worth serving.

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Prayer

Thank God for Jesus, who made you part of His Kingdom. Ask Him to teach you to trust Him fully. Commit to following the Holy Spirit’s guidance. If God’s calling you to follow Jesus more closely today, don’t wait—take that next step.

The Parable of the Soils: Hearing and Bearing Fruit

The Parable of the Sower (or more accurately, the Parable of the Soils) in Matthew 13:1-23 is one of Jesus’ most well-known teachings. It not only reveals the different ways people respond to God’s Word but also highlights the importance of having a heart that truly receives the Gospel and bears fruit.

A Familiar Scene for an Agricultural Audience

Jesus often used parables—stories that take common human experiences and compare them with the Kingdom of God—to communicate truth in a way that was both accessible and challenging. The setting of this parable was familiar to His audience: a farmer sowing (planting) seed. In ancient Palestine, sowing was often done before plowing, meaning the seed could fall on various types of soil, each affecting its ability to grow.

Jesus describes four types of soil:

1. The Path – Hard and compacted, where the seed cannot penetrate and is quickly snatched away.

2. Rocky Ground – Shallow soil over limestone, where seeds sprout quickly but lack the depth to sustain growth.

3. Thorny Ground – Soil where thorns and weeds choke out the young plants.

4. Good Soil – Deep, fertile soil that produces a bountiful harvest.

What Is the Seed?

Jesus explains that the seed represents the Word of God—the message of the kingdom (Matt. 13:19). Just as a seed contains the potential for life, the Gospel carries the power to transform lives when it takes root in a receptive heart.

However, just hearing the Word is not enough. A seed must take root, grow, and bear fruit. The effectiveness of the seed is not in question—it is the same for all soils. What determines the outcome is the condition of the soil, or the state of a person’s heart.

Interpreting the Soils: Responses to God’s Word

When Jesus later explains the parable to His disciples (vv. 18-23), He makes it clear that the soils represent different responses to the Gospel:

• The Path (Hardened Hearts) – These are those who hear the word but do not understand it. Like the seed snatched away by birds, Satan steals the truth before it can take root.

• The Rocky Ground (Shallow Commitment) – These people receive the message with joy but have no depth. When trials or persecution come, they quickly fall away.

• The Thorny Ground (Divided Hearts) – Here, the worries of life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke out the word, preventing spiritual fruit.

• The Good Soil (Faithful Hearts) – These are those who hear, understand, and bear fruit—showing perseverance and true transformation.

The Call to Listen and Respond

Jesus concludes with a challenge: “He who has ears, let him hear” (v. 9). The parable isn’t just about hearing the word—it’s about truly receiving it in a way that produces a life of faithfulness and fruitfulness.

This parable challenges us to examine our own hearts: Are we receptive to God’s Word? Do we allow trials, distractions, or materialism to hinder our growth? Or are we cultivating a heart that is open, obedient, and fruitful for God’s kingdom?

The harvest is plentiful for those who truly listen.