Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Moses said to the people:"Today I have set before you
life and prosperity, death and doom.
If you obey the commandments of the LORD, your God,
which I enjoin on you today,
loving him, and walking in his ways,
and keeping his commandments, statutes and decrees,
you will live and grow numerous,
and the LORD, your God,
will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy.
If, however, you turn away your hearts and will not listen,
but are led astray and adore and serve other gods,
I tell you now that you will certainly perish;
you will not have a long life
on the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and occupy.
I call heaven and earth today to witness against you:
I have set before you life and death,
the blessing and the curse.
Choose life, then,
that you and your descendants may live, by loving the LORD, your God,
heeding his voice, and holding fast to him.
For that will mean life for you,
a long life for you to live on the land that the LORD swore
he would give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."
Wow, this really lays it all out doesn't it? Thing is, if you keep reading you will also see that God keeps his word. When the Israelites follow God's commandments they prosper, when they turn away they fall. I read these lines though and part of me is like, "AHHH I can't hear you! I can't hear you!", as I stick my fingers in my ears. Part of me wants to be ignorant of these words. Part of me wants the ignorance so that I can go off and do what I want to do. As an American I want my freedom, but that's what's funny here. God is offering freedom. Many people I talk to think that God is just some guy with really harsh rules that hates fun. I used to think so myself. God wants us to live, be free and prosper. He wants us to be awesome. He doesn't want us to be held back because we are trapped in lives of sin. He doesn't want us slave to food, drink, sex or any other momentary trapping. He wants us to be like athletes in our prime. He wants us to be able to say no to things so that we can be champions. Thing is, I really like bad food, soda, collecting useless stuff. I like to hold on to things that weigh me down. Why, probably because they are tangible and bring momentary pleasure, but what is greater? Heaven is greater, and I know that God wants to share heaven with me, so I turn to him daily, and like a great coach he is there to help me become what he has made me to be, a saint.
Jesus,
You have so much waiting for me. This world is full of so much "great" stuff. Help me to see what is really behind everything in life. Help me to see so that I can better see the path that God has for me. I need help, I am weak. I love you and I want to get to heaven. I want to cast evil aside and out of my life. I want to bask in you love. I long to be loved. I love you Jesus. Thank you so much for your sacrifice on the cross. Help me to bear my cross today and everyday.
In Jesus Christ's name,
Amen
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