Choose This Day: The Biblical Call to Decide for God

In the tapestry of Christian theology, few themes are as compelling as the invitation to choose God. The Bible, from its earliest pages to its final revelations, resonates with a divine call to humanity: a call to decide, to respond, and to align one’s heart with the Creator. This theme of choice runs like a golden thread through Scripture, inviting us to consider our role in responding to God’s grace. While some theological perspectives, such as Calvinism, emphasize God’s sovereign election in salvation, the biblical narrative consistently underscores human responsibility to choose God, presenting a dynamic interplay of divine initiative and human response.

The Old Testament sets the stage for this theme with vivid clarity. In Joshua 24:15, the leader of Israel stands before the people and declares, “Choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” This is no passive suggestion but a bold challenge to make a deliberate decision. The Israelites were not mere spectators in their faith; they were called to act, to choose allegiance to the one true God over the idols surrounding them.

This call to choose is echoed in Deuteronomy 30:19, where God, through Moses, implores the people: “I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live.” The language is striking—God presents options, and the responsibility to choose rests squarely on human shoulders. The invitation is not coercive but relational, urging a response rooted in love and trust.

In the New Testament, this theme finds its fullest expression in Jesus’ ministry. His call to “follow me” (Matthew 4:19) is an invitation to decide, to step out in faith. In John 3:16, the promise of eternal life is extended to “whoever believes,” implying a personal choice to accept or reject God’s gift. Perhaps most poignantly, Revelation 3:20 paints a picture of Jesus standing at the door, knocking, and waiting for an individual to open: “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” The imagery is intimate and personal, emphasizing the agency of the individual to respond to God’s pursuit.

Within Christianity, Calvinism offers a perspective that emphasizes God’s sovereignty in salvation, particularly through the doctrine of predestination. This view holds that God, in His infinite wisdom, has chosen those who will be saved, and His grace irresistibly draws them to faith. While this perspective highlights the power and initiative of God—an undeniable truth in Scripture—it can sometimes overshadow the biblical emphasis on human choice. The invitation to choose God, so prevalent in Scripture, suggests that humanity is not merely passive in the process of salvation but actively participates in responding to God’s call.

This is not to diminish the beauty of God’s sovereignty, which Calvinism rightly celebrates. God’s initiative in salvation is undeniable—He is the one who seeks, calls, and enables. Yet, the biblical narrative consistently presents faith as a relational act, one that involves a human response. The tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility is a mystery, not a contradiction. Scripture holds both truths in balance, inviting us to marvel at God’s grace while embracing our role in choosing to follow Him.

To focus solely on divine election risks sidelining the vibrant biblical theme of choice. When Joshua called the Israelites to “choose this day,” he was not speaking to a people whose decisions were irrelevant but to a community invited to participate in God’s covenant. When Jesus invited disciples to follow Him, He did not compel them against their will but appealed to their hearts. The Bible’s portrayal of choice is not a denial of God’s sovereignty but a testament to His desire for a genuine, voluntary relationship with His creation.

The call to choose God is not a burden but a gift. It reflects the heart of a God who desires authentic love, not coerced obedience. This invitation to choose is woven into the fabric of Scripture, from the covenants of the Old Testament to the gospel’s call in the New. It reminds us that faith is not a passive state but an active, living response to a God who first loved us.

For those wrestling with theological frameworks like Calvinism, the biblical emphasis on choice offers a complementary perspective. It does not negate God’s sovereignty but enriches our understanding of His grace. He calls, He knocks, He invites—and He grants us the dignity of responding. This balance invites humility, as we recognize that our ability to choose God is itself a gift of His grace, enabled by His Spirit.

As we reflect on the biblical narrative, the call to choose God remains as urgent today as it was for the Israelites or the first disciples. It is a call to decide, to act, to align our hearts with the One who created and redeemed us. Joshua’s words still echo: “Choose this day whom you will serve.” The invitation is not to earn salvation but to embrace it, to open the door to the One who stands and knocks.

Let us, then, respond with faith, trusting in God’s sovereign grace while embracing the responsibility to choose Him. In doing so, we step into the story of a God who loves us enough to invite us to love Him back—a God who calls us not as puppets, but as partners in His redemptive work.