God’s Offer, Our Choice

A DIY religion to find God would eventually frustrate. It would be like diving into the depths of an ocean without proper gear. When God invites us to himself, he also equips us for the journey with his grace. For example, he has given us his Word. This Word is not so far away that we have to ascend to heaven or cross the oceans to find it (12,13). No, God declares that his Word is very near–”in your mouth and in your heart” (14). God had given Israel his Law; they were not in the dark. The purpose of the Law was “so that you may obey it.” This obedience is achieved by regularly reading the Word (Josh. 1:8) and keeping it in the heart (Psa. 119:11). Obedience is “not too difficult” (11) because God has made it possible by giving us his Word and his Spirit, who helps us to understand and apply it in our lives through obedience (Rom. 8:3-8). All this has been made possible by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, making us righteous (Rom. 10:5-10).

There is no more excuse not to love God, walk in his ways and keep his commands (16). God has given all that we need to do it. What is required is for us to choose deliberately and decisively to take up God’s gracious offer. He sets before us two ultimate choices: “life and death, blessings and curses” (19).

Let us choose God for he is our life (20). Let us learn to listen to him and hold fast to him by faithfully loving him every moment (20). Let us not be like foolish and disobedient Israel that kept rejecting God’s offer and lost life and land. To choose God is to choose life. It involves believing the Word, trusting Christ and obeying him.

Is God’s Word very near you, found in your mouth and heart? Do you read it to obey?