Thursday April 12, 2012

Read Deuteronomy 11:13-17

 

It’s hard to wrap our puny minds around but God gives us, for some reason, free will. We have a choice. Even when we are saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ we have a choice.

 

Every time we are tempted by the evil one, by the world or by our own lusts and desires, we exercise that same choice. Israel had that same choice before her in the Promised Land. Life in Israel was every bit as tempting as life in our world. They had to choose daily to worship the one true living God, to pray to Him and to take oaths and vows in His name only.  They would choose daily NOT to pray to statues and false gods, the starry host or other images. They would choose daily to follow the laws and commands that the Lord had given them. Don’t we have such choices on a daily basis? We may not be tempted to serve statues and gods but we are tempted to read the daily stars and see into our future. We are tempted to put the dollar bill above God. We are tempted to forgo worship and attend the sacrifice of work to earn the blessed dollar. We are tempted to watch inappropriate things on TV, on our computers and on our phones as well. We are tempted to flirt with the world and to love the world rather than God.

 

Just like Israel, we need to learn that the choices we make bring consequences. For Israel choosing to walk in obedience would bring long life in the land and God’s abundant blessing upon both the land and the people. That blessing would be so abundant that it would flow to the nations around her. Choosing disobedience would bring the anger of God and the ground would no longer yield its crop. The herds would be less productive and life would be miserable. Eventually, they would be kicked out of the Promised Land.

 

For us disobedience and obedience also have consequences. Obedience brings a rich closeness to God, a confident walk and security that nothing else can imitate. It brings joy and perseverance and an abundance that wells over to others around us. Disobedience brings shallowness with God and shallowness with others. It brings discipline and hardship into our lives. It negates our witness for Christ and makes us dull lights for Jesus. Disobedience brings negativity and hurt and a lifestyle that pushes others away from Christ rather than drawing them to Christ.

 

Even as Christians we still have a choice. How will you exercise that choice today?

 

Prayer:

¥ Pray that you would personally be making wise and godly choices today. Pray that your brothers and sisters would be making wise choices as well at work, at play and in family situations.

¥ Pray for the India Mission team as they plan and prepare for their 2 week mission. Over the last few weeks that many many people have come to the Lord in faith. Pray that the mission team would continue to see people come to faith in Christ as they preach the good news.