One Choice at a Time I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life. (Deuteronomy 30:19) The practice of putting off sinful attitudes and actions and putting on Christlike character involves a constant series of choices. We choose in every situation which direction we’ll go. Through these choices we develop Christlike habits of living. Habits are developed by repetition, and it’s in the arena of moral choices that we develop spiritual habit patterns. We see this in Romans 6:19: “Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness” (niv). The more the Roman believers sinned, the more they were inclined to sin. They were continually deepening their habit patterns of sin simply through their practice of making sinful choices. What was true of them can be just as true of us today. Sin tends to cloud our reason, dull our consciences, stimulate our sinful desires, and weaken our wills. Because of this, each sin we commit reinforces the habit of sinning and makes it easier to give in to that temptation the next time. Paul wanted the Roman believers, and us today, to turn in the other direction and develop habits of godly living: “So now offer [the parts of your body] in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness” (Romans 6:19, niv). Righteousness in this passage refers to the ethical righteousness—the right conduct—we’re to practice every day. Whereas righteousness in this verse refers to our conduct, holiness refers to our character. So it’s through righteous actions that we develop holy character. Holiness of character is developed one choice at a time as we choose to act righteously in each and every situation and circumstance we encounter during the day.