Regardless of whether or not one believes we have a choice in becoming a Christian in the first place, the Bible is abundantly clear that the Christian life is made up of frequent and consistent decisions. At the core of most of these is actually just one question: will we prioritize God, or the world? The world, in this matter, can take a variety of forms. In Luke 9, Zaccheus is shown choosing to honor God over money, and the people watching are invited to choose to be where Christ is rather than submit to social norms concerning the tax collector. In Psalm 119:65-72, the author chooses to trust in God's purposes over comfort, safety, and riches. At the end of Matthew 10, Christ urges us to follow him even at the cost of one's own family, even if it puts us at odds with earthly authority, even if we lose our very lives. Conversely, Hosea 13:4-14:3 is a scathing condemnation for choosing to trust in earthly security over serving God, complete with a warning that if we will not know God as Lord, we will know Him as judge.

But consider the promise that comes with this! Christ proclaims of Zaccheus, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:9-10 NASB). To the church of Laodicea He promises, "He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne" (Revelation 3:21 NASB). But more importantly, He promises throughout scripture that He will be with His people. Those who seek Him shall find Him, those who choose Him will have Him.

​In His strength, for His glory, let us find our joy in choosing God above all else.

If John is to be taken seriously when he associates Christ with the Word, then we cannot have our joy in Christ if we will not find it in the word of God. The scriptures are more than just a record of things God has done; they are God revealing Himself to us, revealing our own natures to us. The Bible is fundamental to our knowledge and enjoyment of God. If we will neglect it, we must neglect the benefits of it. If we will not sacrifice time to be in God's word, we must sacrifice the growth of our relationship with Him. If we will not enjoy the Bible for what it is, we can never fully enjoy God for who He is.

Rather than adding much more to this, I would encourage you to read Psalm 119 and Proverbs 8, and spend time today meditating on the claims contained there and asking God for the grace to respond appropriately.