Ezra 10:4 NKJV
Arise, for this matter is your responsibility. We also are with you. Be of good courage, and do it.”
Beloved,
Why do you do what you do? Have you ever thought about it? What influences your actions, choices, decisions? Different factors have been discovered to be responsible for human actions and reactions and some of them we will explore today.
Instincts. They are God’s gift to you. It is your responsibility to develop and purify it. It is also your responsibility to be productive with it and not misuse it.
Emotions. If you don’t tame your emotions, they’ll lead you to take steps in the wrong direction and cause you to sin. Ask Cain what happened when anger dictated his actions before he could take control of his anger (Genesis 4:4-12). May your emotions not overtake you in Jesus’ name.
Passion/Zeal. Zeal makes things happen (Isaiah 9:7). When your priorities are in order and your zeal is rightly aimed, it will accomplish wonders. Misdirected zeal is dangerous. Don’t allow your passion to overtake godly wisdom, instruction, and reasoning. It is your responsibility to discern context and exercise sound judgment (Proverbs 3:21).
Persistent pressure. Peer pressure is often the reason many young people make dangerous mistakes and take on bad habits they ordinarily wouldn’t have engaged in if they weren’t exposed to such pressure. Sadly, peer pressure is not exclusive to the youth. Ask Aaron in Exodus 32. And as you will see upon reading the chapter, such peer pressure can be a destiny reducer.
We are responsible for our actions. We are responsible for the impact we make in life. Our actions and impact are contingent upon what we allow to impact us. Take your time to identify what’s influencing your actions and make the proper adjustments so that you will become and accomplish all that God requires of you on the earth. We will look at a few more factors we must be mindful of next time.
I commend you to God and to the word of His grace.
I call you blessed. I call you NATIONS.
