Throughout the Bible, we read story after story of decision-making. In every example, the outcome is determined by the quality of the character’s choice. Our lives are no different. God has laid out the options for us and given us sound direction in making those decisions. As we approach the crossroads of a new year, it is a natural time to evaluate and plan on making decisions that lead to life.
Deuteronomy 30:15-20 ESV
15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, 20 loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
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God Provides the Options
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Genesis 2:16-17 ESV
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
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Deuteronomy 30:15 ESV
15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.
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We Make the Decision
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Deuteronomy 30:19 ESV
19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,
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The Decisions Make Us
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Numbers 20:11-12 ESV
11 And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. 12 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”
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Bad Options: What do I Need to Rule Out?
Fear: What am I Placing Before God?
Feelings: Where Will My Feelings Lead Me?
Recognize the Threats, Choose Today, and Repeat!
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Joshua 24:15 ESV
15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
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Application:
Recognize the threats, choose today, and repeat!
