There’s an old story of a man who was seen as wise in his town and people were always trying to challenge or trick him in some way. One young man came to this gentleman and had his hands cupped with something he
was holding. You couldn’t see what it was so the young man challenged the “wise” one with these words…”I have a small bird in my hands. Tell me, is it alive or is it dead?” The older man knew what this young guy was doing. If he said that the bird was dead, the young guy would just open his hands and the bird would fly away. But if he said that the bird was alive…the young man would just crush him before opening his hands. The older man smiled and said “It will be whatever you choose it to be.” There are things in life over which we have no control. But there is a tremendous amount of life that will be…whatever you choose it to be. There are many who don’t like the idea that we are responsible for our lives and especially our choices. But God holds us responsible for what we choose in life. When Moses was about to send the people of Israel into the promised land he told them that they then had the choice between life and death and between blessings and curses. He told them that his passion was that they would choose life…so that they and their children would live. And he told them that you make the choice for life for you and to some degree for those who come after you by loving the Lord your God, obeying him and committing yourself determinedly to him. And the result…is life and being able to receive the blessings and promises of God. The reality is that you and everyone else will choose either by our commitment or by default…our future. Like Moses said that day to the hoards of people who needed to decide on the course of their lives and the lives of those who would follow them…Oh that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live. Remember what Jesus said…I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me. All of history is waiting…choose life. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NLT “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! (20) 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. And if you love and obey the LORD, you will live long in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
Remember I’m praying for you,
PJ
was holding. You couldn’t see what it was so the young man challenged the “wise” one with these words…”I have a small bird in my hands. Tell me, is it alive or is it dead?” The older man knew what this young guy was doing. If he said that the bird was dead, the young guy would just open his hands and the bird would fly away. But if he said that the bird was alive…the young man would just crush him before opening his hands. The older man smiled and said “It will be whatever you choose it to be.” There are things in life over which we have no control. But there is a tremendous amount of life that will be…whatever you choose it to be. There are many who don’t like the idea that we are responsible for our lives and especially our choices. But God holds us responsible for what we choose in life. When Moses was about to send the people of Israel into the promised land he told them that they then had the choice between life and death and between blessings and curses. He told them that his passion was that they would choose life…so that they and their children would live. And he told them that you make the choice for life for you and to some degree for those who come after you by loving the Lord your God, obeying him and committing yourself determinedly to him. And the result…is life and being able to receive the blessings and promises of God. The reality is that you and everyone else will choose either by our commitment or by default…our future. Like Moses said that day to the hoards of people who needed to decide on the course of their lives and the lives of those who would follow them…Oh that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live. Remember what Jesus said…I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me. All of history is waiting…choose life. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NLT “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! (20) 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. And if you love and obey the LORD, you will live long in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
Remember I’m praying for you,
PJ