The Power of One Choice — Be Bold This Week

While reading my devotional by Nicky and Pippa Gumbel, I learned that Charles Finney, the evangelist, was also a lawyer.

In the 1830s, speaking in a New York church, he often made altar calls, asking people to step forward publicly while they still had the chance to give their lives to Jesus, and many responded, especially lawyers like him.

One night, however, the Chief Justice of New York, deeply moved by the gospel Charles preached, wrestled in his mind with the idea of stepping out like the ordinary people. He wondered if it was appropriate given his prestigious position as the highest-ranking figure in New York’s legal hierarchy.

After a long time pondering, he finally thought, ‘Why not? I’m convinced of the truth, why shouldn’t I do it like everyone else?’

Perhaps afraid, like Nicodemus, he went backstage and quietly told Finney, ‘When you call people out to give their lives publicly, I will come out.’

An excited Finney wasted no time. He announced to the whole congregation, ‘The Chief Justice says that if I call people forward, he will come. I ask you to come forward now.’ That evening, the Chief Justice and every lawyer present went forward.

The sweetest part of the story is this: in the following 12 months, 100,000 people were converted in that area. That was the impact of one person’s choice. One person’s choice changed countless lives.

As a businessman in Nigeria, I’m daily tempted to stay on the sidelines, careful not to offend the leadership that keeps me in business. But staying silent, I’ve noticed, only invites what I fear: bad policies and principles I refuse to speak against often come close to harming me anyway.

So the question is: why stay silent when I can speak up for better choices that will eventually benefit a failing system?

One choice for great leadership, sound policies, good marketing, hard work, and noble behaviour may be all that is needed.

Keep this in mind as we go about our daily lives, 'One choice can ripple out to bless countless lives. Don’t underestimate your voice or your actions'.

Blessed week to you all.

Shalom.

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