We Must Stop Picking and Choosing

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (2 Timothy 3:16).


       Have you ever looked through a sales catalog for shoes to buy? There are so many choices. There are boots, sneakers, high heels, sandals, work shoes, fancy shoes, plain shoes, shoes that have strings that tie, some have buckles, some have straps or nothing at all. Some are pretty colors, some are plain. Some are comfortable, some are not. Some are expensive, some are not. So, how do you decide which shoes to buy? Your choice is based upon your need at the time. If the need is for work, you select shoes that are practical for your type of job. If the need is a wedding or somewhere fancy, you select a pair of fancy and usually uncomfortable shoes. If you are going to the beach, you select a sandal of some sort. It all depends on your need.


       How many times do we treat the Word of God like a shoe store shopping catalog? We look at a passage like "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." (Luke 9:23),  and think, "That would cost too much".  


      We read " But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;" (Matthew 5:44), and think, "That is too uncomfortable for me".

    
     We see the verse in   1 Peter 1:16   that says  "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy",  and we say, "But, that is not in style."


      We look at  1 Thessalonians 5:17  that tells us to Pray without ceasing, and we say, " That doesn't fit me".

      We come across the verse in  1 Peter 2:9 that says   "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:" and we say, "Wow! This makes me look good! Everyone will notice me for sure now! It's comfortable and doesn't cost much. I like this!"

      God's Word is truth...from Genesis to Revelation. It is to be read, studied and lived from Genesis to Revelation. We are not to pick and choose the verses that we like and that are easy for us to obey and disregard the rest. We are to take it all. Look at the verse at the top of the page again. This is why God's Word was given to us. It isn't about making us comfortable (although there are promises and blessings contained in His Word, but only if we take the whole Word from cover to cover). His Word isn't about making us popular or elevated in social statuses. We must stop picking and choosing what we want and start digesting it all. Then and only then, can we truly walk the way He wants us to.