Truly one of my favorite verses...
I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them. Deuteronomy 30:19, 20 NKJV And I guess the reason I love these verses so much, is that they cause me to flashback to my teacher days. And it's like Moses... the teacher, is standing before his students, the children of Israel. And he's speaking for the Lord, but he has all these witnesses... he says, I call heaven and earth against you... as if to encourage them to listen up and make a good grade, because everyone's watching! Like all the angels, their ancestors, (the ones who died in the wilderness) the patriarchs for whom these promises were made... Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I mean, Moses ain't messin' around, here. He's been told by God that his life is about to end. He's taught them the laws over, and over, and over again. And now it's time to give the test... so he want's them all to pass. And everyone is watching... pressure's on. So it's basically... a one question test: Today I have given you the choice between life and death, with a clarification: between blessings and curses.... and the teacher gives a big hint: Oh, that you would choose life... Deuteronomy 30:19 (NLT) But here's the big difference between me... and Moses. When I gave tests to my students, I never gave the answer. But then again, who am I to compare myself to Moses. I mean Algebra verses the Ten Commandments? Sheesh! Clearly, he had a much weightier burden to carry. And his patience and compassion for the children of Israel far outweighs mine. For he pleads with them chapter after chapter to carefully obey. My man, Moses! But truthfully, we are given the same choice today. God tells us that we too get the choice between life and death, blessings and curses. And again, He gives us the answer. God offers us life and blessings through His free gift of grace and salvation. There is nothing we could ever do to earn or deserve it. But that is why Jesus came to this earth as a man... to live the perfect life, but die a criminal's death. He was buried in a borrowed tomb. And rose to new life... just like the life He offers to us. Word of God... train me, today... to wake up each day reminded to choose life, to walk through each day reminded to tell others of new life offered them. Lord, I thank You for choices. But most of all I thank You for life and blessings for myself and my descendants. Remind me every new day to make the right choices.
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January 2019
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