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West Florida
Ranger Commanders and FCF Make A Choice To Serve
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A few thousand years ago a
profit of God, Elijah, had faith that God would take care of him
and provide for his needs. While he would worry about his future,
Elijah chose to obey God and trust in Him to provide. God chose to
do this through a widow woman. At this time in history, a widow
was often poor and without means. Women were also lower in
society’s view status. The profit came to this woman and told
her to feed him what would be her last meal. She had faith and
made the choice to put God first. I Kings 17:16 tells us “the
jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail,
according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.”
Later, the Gospels tells us of
another person who did not have much in life, but had everything
through her choice to obey God. This poor woman is recorded in the
Book of Luke as one who made a choice and gave all to God. Luke
21:3-4: [Jesus] said [to his disciples], “Truly I tell you, this
poor widow has put in more than [all the rich people]; for all of
them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her
poverty has put in all that she had to live on.” We do not know
what happened to this woman, but I do believe we will see her in
glory.
Each day every one of us
awakes and has the ability to make a choice. God does not force
His will on us, rather seeks to have a relationship with us
through our choice to follow Him. The Bible tells us how the
angels, another created being, will be in awe of our relationship
with God. This comes from his grace provided after the fall and
completed through Jesus.
Each day we make choices. Each
day we have the ability to make a choice for God, for our Savior
Jesus. Often the world will tell us that making a wrong choice is
ok because of our life circumstances. Perhaps our economic status,
skin color, upbringing or other factor is looked at by society as
an excuse for making a bad choice. An example is a boy who chooses
to do the wrong thing, and while he might get into trouble, much
of the world will look at him and say it was not really his fault.
God is not a God of “gray areas” or “if it feels good do
it”; rather He is a God of right and wrong, of absolutes.
Royal Ranger Donald
“Stillwaters” Walker is the grandson of an Assembly of God
preacher. He lives with his mom and dad. There have been times in
the past when his dad was not living with them because of legal
issues. His dad currently is not able to be with him. Donald’s
home is not fancy, an older single wide mobile home. His mother
does not drive a newer car. His life is one that, if he would have
made the wrong choice, the world would easily have said it was not
really his fault, rather that of his life conditions.
Donald made the right choices
and as a result he is succeeding in life. He is in his senior year
and has a bright future scholarship. Others saw what kind of
person Donald is and agreed he is the type they wanted to invest
in. When the word went out that he needed a computer, the Ranger
commanders made a choice to help. Because of the ranger and FCF
events Donald participated in, they saw a young man who makes the
right choices. Enough money came in to buy Donald a new laptop
computer. His old computer, a rebuilt used computer, had died.
The new Toshiba laptop arrived
Friday and was presented to him at church on Sunday, March 15. I
preached a message similar to the one in this letter, slowly
building up how we decide to make the right choices and obey God.
At the end I used Donald as an example. As I continued to
illustrate the point using him as a reference, he was not sure why
so much attention. I them called him to the front and talked once
again how he had made the right choices and is following God. The
new laptop was pulled out. With the money raised we were able to
buy a better than the bottom line student special.
From the pictures you can see
where he came forward, unaware of the blessing God had for him.
The next picture is where he received the computer. What the
picture does not show is the chocked up voice and teary eyes as he
realized what others had done for him. The next picture is Donald
looking at the laptop and the carrying case. His mother, Venita,
also checks out the new computer and Donald holding the laptop.
Royal ranger Commanders, thank
you for making the right choices and giving your “oil and
meal” to people of God. For some of you this seeding into a boy
might have indeed been a sacrifice. I know God will continue to
bless the Rangers in West Florida because of your choice to serve
Him.
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