Let's Choose Life

Joshua 24:15 – And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (KJV)

Like everyone else's, my days are full of decisions. What time do I want to wake up? What do I want to have for breakfast? What direction will I take to get to work on time? What am I going to do for dinner? Am I going to wash or iron? And so, my day goes on — so many decisions. I decide what I am going to do according to my priorities. How many are essential, and how many are not necessary? But most of them are not life-or-death decisions.

However, there are decisions that are life-or-death decisions. There are choices that are essential, and they are in our hands.

Deuteronomy 30:15 – See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil. (KJV)

The Israelites had to choose, and so do we. Do we want the blessed, holy, eternal life? Or do we want the sinful life of evil that brings death?

We can decide that life should be lived freely, with no limits on our actions. We can decide that the best person to guide our lives is self, and that we don't want to limit ourselves with rules, laws, or decrees. We can live "the only life we have" solely for our own pleasure, without any thought for others. Our attitude can be a desire for money, success, and fun, and not having to account to anyone for anything. But that way leads to eternal death.

Each day, we must decide whether we want to choose eternal life, to hear the voice of the Lord and live a holy life, set apart for His glory, letting His light shine in us so that the lost can see that we are different. We need to speak differently, think differently, behave differently, and demonstrate Christ's love in our deeds, words, and attitudes.

It is up to us to choose life or death, blessing or curse. God encourages us to choose life. "You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life." (Deuteronomy 30:20a NLT)

Prayer: Each day that begins has its decisions. Lord, each day, we need to choose to live for You, because that decision will affect not only the 24 hours given to us each day, but also our eternity. Help us to choose life, because we don't know how many days await us. Amen.