So far, we have been focusing on New Testament verses. So this week, let’s dip into the Old Testament and discuss one of the greatest gifts God grants to human kind. The “verse to memorize” is from the Book of Deuteronomy, chapter 30, verse 19…and it is one of my favorites:
“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
Free Will. We spent last week talking about the truth that sets us free. We saw how, apart from God, we really don’t have any choice between life and death. Our fallen nature will choose Self, that prideful MMI, over selfless love every time. Even when we seem to do things that are good, they usually have a selfish motive. For instance, many give to charities…because they can write it off on their taxes. Some do good deeds so that others will think they are good, or because then they think they will get something in return, like browny points with God even! And some help others because then those “others’ will owe them in return.
Doing good, the right thing purely because it is the right thing to do can only be accomplished through the power of God. We are so quick to pat ourselves on our own back when we do good, just look at some social media posts to see what I mean. But to do good in secret? Where only God knows what you did? Yeah, that takes a changed heart. What does any of this have to do with Free Will? Let’s talk about it this week…
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
