Choice

'Received an email today from a friend, Ted, with a good comment, so here is Ted:
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We all have choices in this life we lead. We choose many things every day and some of those choices have consequences that ripple for generations. Moses talked about this with his people just before he died in Deuteronomy 30:

19 "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,

20 "by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them."

There were choices that were going to be made that would have impact on his tribe and he was exhorting them to choose well. We have the same situation today. God sets before us life and death, blessings or a curse and the result is determined by our choice.

Joshua had a similar message for the Hebrew clan when they were in the land of promise; Joshua 24:

15 "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Today there are many gods competing for our attention and devotion. We still have to make the choice as to which god or God we will serve. Some of those gods are actually our tribal religious traditions that we think are right and good but they are blocking God’s full intention for our lives because they are more important than a deep relationship with Him.

The Most High God will not allow any other gods to rule over Him. Even gods that are wrapped in religious packages that sound right and good but are not from Him will not be allowed.

Lord, help us to love You correctly and well. Help us to hear and obey Your voice. Help us to hold fast to You and You alone.

As for us … and our house …. we will serve the Lord.
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Protect and Nurture

A definition of “love,” not to be confused with lust, that I have come to adopt and use was offered by Josh McDowell. This definition is that “love” is the protection and nurturing of one by another. This pretty much covers the subject and is worth pondering, even adopting in daily use in every relationship such that one asks of every action in a relationship, “Am I protecting and nurturing this person?”