"When there's a gun to your head and you're asked if you believe in Jesus..."

This is one of those situations Christians sometimes talk about. For most of us it is a very hypothetical situation - at least for those of us living in the West. It is a reality for others, notably in the news recently Pakistan.

We bring out this question as one that would for once and for all show our allegiance and commitment to God. We say that if faced with such a decision we hope and pray that we would have the grace, in that moment, to not deny our Saviour.

And I join in on those prayers. But, as I studied the story of the "sinful woman who anoints Jesus", I realised I'm neglecting a lot of the question.

The gun question talks about one moment in time and it's a pretty abstract question: when there's a gun to your head do you pick God or your life.

My life does not have that question... does it?

Well there's no gun to my head but there are some "God or" questions.

God or the snooze button.

God or TV.

God or that book I need.

God or chocolate.

God or my ideas about how something should unfold.

God or my ambitions.

God or my idea of who is deserving of love or compassion.

God or ___________.

Ultimately it all comes down to: God or me.

And I often think I have better ideas.

Every day I have many moments in which to choose God. One could even suggest that every moment holds that decision. None of them have guns attached but they're the decisions of my days, the decisions I've been given to live.

If "How we live our days is how we live our lives" (Annie Dillard) then are those non-gun, decisive moments an accurate reflection of how I wish to live my life? The decisions should be marked by my realisation that God knows best and loves me more than I can comprehend and can be trusted.

So, this week, there is no gun to my head. But I strive to live as one who has been crucified with Christ. One who is been given new life. One who is given daily choices to show that marvelous truth: "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain."