Pat Bricklemyer

Choose Life

Deuteronomy 30: 15 –“See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.” NIV

I was reading in the Old Testament the other day and came across Deuteronomy Chapter 30.  This is one of the final speeches Moses gives to the children of Israel before he dies and they proceed to go into the Holy Land.  The chapter is truly worth a read!  The Lord has told the people what will happen if they turn to other nations’ gods (and we know they do) and what will happen if they follow His laws.  He gives them the offer of Life or Death. God called the people to keep his commands, while reminding them that his laws were not hidden from them or beyond their reach.

In the same way, we have been given the same offer, only our choices are even more visible, since we have the Word, Jesus Christ, to follow—all we have to do is to accept Christ as our Savior and live as he would have us live. The hardest part is simply deciding to start now.  When you look back at the passage in Deuteronomy you see that the choice is truly important, life or death, blessings or curses.

Moses challenged Israel to choose life, to obey God and therefore experience his blessings.  God doesn’t force his will on anyone.  He lets us decide whether to follow or reject him.  This decision however is a life-or-death matter. God wants us to realize this, for he would like us all to choose life.  Daily, in each new situation, we must affirm and reinforce this commitment.

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father, please help me each day to wake with thoughts of you and choose life with you!  In Jesus' Name—Amen