Deuteronomy 30:15–20
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live. – Deuteronomy 30:19
Click to read
Do you know how many decisions a person makes in a lifetime?
Research shows that an adult makes more than 30,000 small decisions every day (such as what to eat, what to wear, which task to do first, whether to reply to a message, etc.). We don’t notice many of these decisions because they are “habitual” choices. But the truly life-shaping, major decisions—those that influence the direction of one’s life—number only in the dozens to hundreds across a lifetime. These are the decisions that profoundly affect the course of your life: choices like a spouse, a career, or a place to live. When you make such decisions, you don’t know what awaits you ahead. No one can guarantee that your choice is the right one, that it will lead to a happy and fulfilled life. No one can give you that assurance.
But in today’s scripture, Moses gave the Israelites a promise: if you choose to listen to God, your life will surely be blessed.
“To love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.” (v.16)
On the other hand: “If your heart turns away… you will certainly be destroyed… you will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.” (vv.17–18)
Which path will you choose?
The Lord God created man in His own image and likeness. He gave mankind free will, the ability to make choices. Before us are two paths: one is to follow Him and receive life; the other is to reject Him and head toward destruction. This is the road that each person must choose for themselves. Moses said: “See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.” (v.15) At this crucial moment of life’s greatest choice, have you chosen?
Today, the choices before us may seem more numerous and varied, but the choice between life and death, blessing and curse, has never changed. Today, do I choose to follow my own desires, to live however I please and head toward destruction? Or do I choose the path that brings true life and eternal blessing?
Life and blessing are what everyone longs for. Today, through Jesus Christ, the way of life has already been opened. The choice that remains is ours. The entire Bible tells us that God is love, that He desires to build a relationship with people, and that He wants to bless them. The way to receive life has never changed: as Moses said—to trust in Him, to obey Him, and to cling tightly to Him; only then can we receive blessings both in heaven (eternal life) and on earth (dwelling long in the land He has given). (v.20) Have you chosen rightly?
Reflection:
In my daily life, how do I make my choices? What standard do I use? Have I ever experienced the times when obedience brought blessing, and disobedience brought loss?
True life has never been about outward abundance, but about a relationship with God, for He is the source of life. Without life, everything else we possess loses all meaning.
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for showing me the way of life. When I am tempted by the world and fail to obey Your will, please help and remind me. May every choice I make today directly strengthen my relationship with You and bring me the blessings You desire to give me. Holy Spirit, please constantly remind me to make the right choices, so that my whole life may walk in the path that pleases You and is filled with Your blessing. In the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray, Amen!
Click to read
Do you know how many decisions a person makes in a lifetime?
Research shows that an adult makes more than 30,000 small decisions every day (such as what to eat, what to wear, which task to do first, whether to reply to a message, etc.). We don’t notice many of these decisions because they are “habitual” choices. But the truly life-shaping, major decisions—those that influence the direction of one’s life—number only in the dozens to hundreds across a lifetime. These are the decisions that profoundly affect the course of your life: choices like a spouse, a career, or a place to live. When you make such decisions, you don’t know what awaits you ahead. No one can guarantee that your choice is the right one, that it will lead to a happy and fulfilled life. No one can give you that assurance.
But in today’s scripture, Moses gave the Israelites a promise: if you choose to listen to God, your life will surely be blessed.
“To love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.” (v.16)
On the other hand: “If your heart turns away… you will certainly be destroyed… you will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.” (vv.17–18)
Which path will you choose?
The Lord God created man in His own image and likeness. He gave mankind free will, the ability to make choices. Before us are two paths: one is to follow Him and receive life; the other is to reject Him and head toward destruction. This is the road that each person must choose for themselves. Moses said: “See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.” (v.15) At this crucial moment of life’s greatest choice, have you chosen?
Today, the choices before us may seem more numerous and varied, but the choice between life and death, blessing and curse, has never changed. Today, do I choose to follow my own desires, to live however I please and head toward destruction? Or do I choose the path that brings true life and eternal blessing?
Life and blessing are what everyone longs for. Today, through Jesus Christ, the way of life has already been opened. The choice that remains is ours. The entire Bible tells us that God is love, that He desires to build a relationship with people, and that He wants to bless them. The way to receive life has never changed: as Moses said—to trust in Him, to obey Him, and to cling tightly to Him; only then can we receive blessings both in heaven (eternal life) and on earth (dwelling long in the land He has given). (v.20) Have you chosen rightly?
Reflection:
In my daily life, how do I make my choices? What standard do I use? Have I ever experienced the times when obedience brought blessing, and disobedience brought loss?
True life has never been about outward abundance, but about a relationship with God, for He is the source of life. Without life, everything else we possess loses all meaning.
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for showing me the way of life. When I am tempted by the world and fail to obey Your will, please help and remind me. May every choice I make today directly strengthen my relationship with You and bring me the blessings You desire to give me. Holy Spirit, please constantly remind me to make the right choices, so that my whole life may walk in the path that pleases You and is filled with Your blessing. In the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray, Amen!