Choose Carefully
Opening Prayer
Author of Life, help me to continually choose You, to choose Your way, that I may walk in the way of life.
Read DEUTERONOMY 30:11-20
[11] Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. [12] It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” [13] Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” [14] No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. [15] See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. [16] For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. [17] But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, [18] I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. [19] This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live [20] and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What decision are the people being called to?This is a commitment moment–the time when the covenant is sealed in the hearts of the people. The commitment asked for is presented as a choice between life and death, prosperity and destruction (15). But the choice is not legalistic; it begins with a love relationship with God himself (16). The choice to live is all but automatic if the love is present. Such a love produces its own kind of commitment, which chooses to walk with God and to listen to his commands.Neither is love a mechanical response. Love assumes the right to reject it; it is active within free will and depends on being able to say no (17). With such freedom comes unimaginable responsibility for the consequences (18). Witnesses are called to Moses’ moment of covenant vulnerability (19). God’s offer has been made, and he looks for a commitment to love him, listen to him and hold fast to him (20). In the turbulent journey to come, nothing less will do–a sentiment you might agree with today.
Apply
Take time to reflect on this passage and the consequences of the choice we make in response to this invitation.
Closing prayer
Lord, You are my life and the hope of life for my family and loved ones. Let me clearly choose You.
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