Choose Life and God’s Blessings
“Choose to love the LORD your God and to obey him and commit yourself to him, for he is your life. Then you will live long in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” -- Deuteronomy 30:20
The young man made a choice. He joined his church, he told me. He was going to be baptized. He laughed. After all this time, he said. Not so long really but, oh, what a journey. It was truly wonderful to hear his news.
He knew Jesus. Sort of. Like many kids he was present in church but never really paying much attention. Adulthood brought its own challenges as mistakes plagued him. Two failed marriages. A daughter. A desire for something different.
So he started taking his child to church every Sunday. He thought it was the right thing to do. He enjoyed the contemporary service. The message was short and to the point, hitting him in the heart most weeks. The music spoke to his soul. He kept going back.
He took his questions to anyone who would listen. A pastor friend -- not from the church he attends -- listened attentively. They prayed together. He read the Bible and sought answers. He struggled to reign in his anger and impatience. He changed, day by day, as his faith grew. He handed his troubles over to God and felt His healing touch.
He spoke confidently of his new-found faith. He is determined to live life differently. To not make the same mistakes again. He made a choice to give his life to Jesus. Not just with words but with action and belief. It took awhile but his choice is solid, based on deep faith.
In the verse preceding the one above, Moses told the Israelites to choose between life and death, between blessings and curses. This young man chose life. He chose blessings. He chose God’s merciful love for all time. What wonderful news, indeed!
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