This verse is both freeing and a bit scary too, but let’s take it in and learn:
“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” Dt 30:19 NIV
So it is freeing because the truth is we humans tend to choose those self-centered death choices more than we’d like to admit. But it is only when we know that truth that we will turn to God and receive His help to grow. It is maturity that takes us from that MMI-centered way of living to the selfless heart that truly gives us a fulfilling life. And this verse can be a bit scary because we will see how many times we really do get stuck in that “I think, I feel, I want” mentality. Spiritual growth is all about going from that, to asking ourselves, “what does God think, feel and want” instead. When we put God first, everything falls into place…or it does so, more and more anyway. Transformation. Please never forget this is the whole point to Salvation!
It is as we know this truth about our fallen, old nature, that we will submit to God and begin to learn how to live the Abundant Life He desires for us, by making Life choices instead of death decisions. Oh it is a process, my Friends, but if you never know this truth, you will stay stuck in that old prison of selfishness that leads to sin and those symptoms of death we have talked about many times. We will continue to use this precious gift of Free Will, but to freely and willingly…see what I did there…choose death over life! We will choose self over others and it will seem like nothing has changed since we became born again! Ahhh, but God wants so much more for His children! More tomorrow…
Join me in memorizing 52 verses this year:
January: 1- Jn 3:16; 2- 2Co 5:17; 3- Jas 2:26; 4- Eph 2:10
February: 5- Jn 10:10; 6- Ro 6:23; 7- Rev 21:4; 8- Php 4:13
9- 1Pe 5:7
10- Jn 8:32
11- DT 30:19
<>< Peace, Diane
