Deuteronomy 30:16(NLT)
“For I command you this day to love the LORD your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.”
In the plains of Moab, Moses stood before the children of Israel during the last moments of his life. He would address them one final time. He reminded them of their covenant with God and wanted to prepare them for what the Lord wanted them to do. Moses told them about the great things God had in store, that He wanted to prosper them, cause them to grow, and move them into the Promise Land. Moses told them what would happen if they obeyed God’s commands and walked according to God’s ways; they would be abundantly blessed. This still applies to us today.
The bible gives us a record of behavior for God’s people. It was one where they vacillated between hot and cold. Like us, they had choices. They could choose to obey God’s Word and bask in the abundance of His blessings, or they could choose another path and reap the consequence of it as well. Heavenly Father did not withdraw their free-will choice. He gave them the highest level of knowledge available, which is His Word, and left it to them to abide by it. He greatly desired that they would make sound and right choices, because He wanted to bless and prosper them, but they, like us, were responsible for the choices they made. This is one of our most beneficial spiritual lessons.
God’s mercy and grace will keep us, there is no question about this, but He will not overstep His laws. For every action, there is a reaction. Everything has a consequence, and we will not escape them. Moses made it clear that God’s promise was conditional. This means that the condition needed to be met so that the promise could be obtained. They were warned about getting too cozy or full of themselves and taking God’s grace and generosity for granted. They needed to heed His voice, and be sincere and cheerful with all their hearts and souls.
God gives us all that He is, with unfathomable purity and holiness. The least that we can do is commit our best to do the same.
We have the same choice to be obedient to God as His people living in Old Testament times. God tells us through the Apostle Paul in Romans 2:5-10(NLT), “5 But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will judge everyone according to what they have done. 7 He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. 8 But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. 9 There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 10 But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.”
Moses constantly encouraged God’s people to remain committed to Heavenly Father’s ways, but biblical history reveals that they were a very stubborn and rebellious people. They wanted what they wanted, how they wanted it, and when they wanted it—just like us! God admonished them to walk in His ways, to lean neither to the left or to the right, and to keep His Word in their hearts; then, when tribulation or strife came their way, they wouldn’t waver in their faith, but have total confidence in God. This is still true for us.
We awaken each day with endless possibilities. God wants to do the exceedingly abundant in our lives. He wants us to walk in the fullness of all that He has in store for us, but the choice to reach out and grab it is ours. So what’s it going to be? Will you choose to be blessed, happy, and fulfilled, or will you choose a path beneath your privilege—a path of worry, doubt, and confusion?
Make the right choice! Live His Word, and you’ll embrace His goodness, grace, and glory continually. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“So What’s It Going to Be?”, written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2018. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.