Everyday we are faced with so many choices, and decisions that need to be made. God makes thing very easy for us that are in covenant with him. Today, choose life or choose death. Today choose blessings or choose curses.
The obvious choice is the choice of life. God says in his Word that he alone is to be our life. So that means everyday, we make a choice in advance to make him the center of our lives. That means no matter what kind of day we are having, we choose life. We choose God’s Word to be our Word, and choose to line our lives up with that Word. When we choose life, and choose to make God our life, we are choosing to be faithful. It is God’s expectation that when we enter into the covenant that he offers us, that we would remain loyal to him. God is not looking for a date, or an occasional acquaintance. He is looking for people to make a choice, and stick with that choice. He is looking for people to keep their end of the covenant, and be there for him. God is always faithful, and he has proven for eternity that he will show himself faithful.
Choosing life is a ‘lifestyle.’ It isn’t agreeing with the preacher on Sunday, and forgetting to live it for the rest of the week. It is a daily commitment that you consciously make. It’s not saying, “well, I’m a Christian, and I go to church on Sundays.” It is I believe in God’s Word, and I’m choosing to live it out all day, everyday. So how are some ways in our everyday life that we can “choose life?” Always remember that spiritual is practical, and practical is spiritual. One of the first things I made valuable in my life was choosing to be at church no matter what. It was a very practical choice, but it was a choice of life. It says in Hebrews 10:25 to “not give up meeting, like some are in the habit of doing, but to encourage one another.” God wants people to come together as a group, and wants them to pursue him as a group. Finally, God wants to come down to the group, and enjoy convenient with us. This can’t happen though if people are being unfaithful, and making ‘other’ choices. I’m not talking about if you have the flu, a business trip, or a planned holiday. I’m talking about people who have a lifestyle of putting themselves first instead of God. That is not a choice of life, even though it may ‘appear’ that it is. So when I chose to do God’s Word (i.e, committing to go to church no matter what), I was choosing life. Why? Because God likes it, and it shows physically that I’m making a choice of life. Ok, I think you’re getting this.
The heart of the matter is this: when you love God with all your heart, you’re going to choose life. It’s a choice to serve Him no matter what the cost, because when you lay down your life you live. The world encourages people to live for themselves, and put themselves first. So for example when we know it’s time to go to church, (presuming that you’re a Christian), but something else more important is talking to your heart. Your comfy bed, a friend wanting to hang out with you, or a shopping trip. You have a choice to make, a choice of life, or a choice of death. You know the enemy would love to do anything possible to steal your devotion to God, and help assist you in dishonoring God in the process. He doesn’t want you in church in your spiritual position, encouraging others. That’s a choice of life; that is a choice to love God. He could care less if you selfishly choose death; because when you do it dishonors God. Plus, because people choose ‘spiritual’ death, it makes them hard to God. It makes it hard for them to hear his voice, and they loose the life that only comes from God. If people are making choices that put themselves first, they are not choosing life. Sure, sure, God is in the picture, but He is not number one. Remember choosing life, is choosing to make God your life.
There are a lot of things in the world that would love to sit on the throne of your heart, but only one choice is the right choice. When we allow God to become our life, we are letting Him be King of our lives. When the King of life is allowed to reign over our choices, we have a life overflowing with blessings. There are many practical ways we can put God first in our lives, and make choices of life daily. I would encourage you to start in some area of your life, and commit to a lifestyle of choosing life. As you daily choose life, you will start noticing how much better everything will become for you. It won’t be perfect, but it will be right. This is something God is asking us all today, what choice will you make? Will you choose life or death? It’s your choice!
Deuteronomy 30:19: 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.
