If you cannot make them, you will not be able to sleep well!

In life you will be called to make difficult decisions. I have made many up to this date. These decisions are not easy since it will cause you to be persecuted, harassed, ridiculed, abused and tormented. At times, I have thought to myself why it has to be done this way. At other times I have questioned my own sanity. But at the end of the week, I begin to rest and receive assurances from the Holy Spirit that only the strong can make lifetime decisions and most of all, only those who have a call greater then their ego.

I remember one of those decisions I had to make in Brazil at our mission. A man looked for a job. He passed the interview with flying colors. We hired him and made him our Administrator. The next day, we were looking for a financial secretary and the administrator’s wife came to be interviewed. No one would hire a husband and wife to work under the same company. We hired him and her and it has been the best decision as to staff I have ever made. Another decision in which I was tested was to hired a  homosexual. I hired him and Jesus healed him completely. He eventually married one of our employees and now has a beautiful family.

Paul made one of these decisions based on his call. He appeal to Caesar!  Festus which replaced Felix as governor of Judea went to Jerusalem and spend several days hearing the accusations from the Jewish leaders against the Apostle Paul.  Festus would not condemn Paul and told his accusers to come to Caesarea to be heard.

Herod Agrippa II, the young king to be, came to Caesarea to welcome Festus to his new job and asked about Paul.  King Agrippa asked to hear Paul. If you read verse 23 of chapter 25 it says: “The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with high ranking officers and the leading men of the city, just to hear Paul.”

You see, to appeal to Caesar was his best decision, even though his testimony to Festus and King Agrippa could have saved him from going to Rome.

THE DECISIONS OF A LIFETIME HAVE TO BE GREATER THEN YOUR EGO AND EQUAL TO YOUR CALL!!

Never decide to agree with the opposition. Never allow others to compliment you when you know you are right. Never look or consider when accused or harassed or change your mind. Agabus, the prophet was right. Paul had to go to Rome to testify of Jesus.

Are you pleasing someone in order to look good or to get something from them? Are you politically correct to allow others to see how good you are?

Make the decision that God inspires you to make. Stick to it and live your life before the Lord. YOU HAVE TO PLEASE HIM ONLY!!!

Rick Bonfim