Choosing Life
See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. Deuteronomy 30:15,16
Read Deuteronomy 30:11-20
Moses had wandered in the wilderness with the people of Israel for forty years, but the time came when he had to leave them. In his parting address, Moses encouraged the people to follow the ways of the Lord. In fact, it was more than an encouragement; it was a command. The temptation to serve other gods would be great. In fact, Israel’s history reveals that time and again they worshiped gods other than Jehovah.
The danger of serving false gods should not be minimized today. We are inclined to set our affections on objects and people as idols; they take the place of the Lord in our lives. Your work and career can become your idol if they become more important than the service of the Lord. You can also nullify God’s place by relying on yourself and resorting to your own insights. Are there individuals you look up to and think: If I could be like them, I’d have it made? They then have become your idols.
Moses gave Israel the command to choose the Lord, to choose life. This choice involves loving and listening to Him and obeying His voice. The Lord also demands this of you, and it ought to bring you to your knees before Him. Pray to the Lord; say with the hymn: Take my life and let it be, consecrated, Lord, to Thee. Making the right choice, one that is for God, means life. If you consecrate your life to the Lord you will experience true freedom and lasting peace.
Thought: What idols do you have in your life?
Psalter 233: 4,6 (based on Psalm 86) O Lord, incline Thy ear to me, My voice of supplication heed; In trouble I will cry to Thee, For Thou wilt answer when I plead. In all Thy deeds how great Thou art! Thou one true God, Thy way make clear; Teach me with undivided heart To trust Thy truth, Thy Name to fear.