Listen

Look here! Today I’ve set before you life and what’s good versus death and what’s wrong. If you obey the Lord your God’s commandments that I’m commanding you right now by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments, his regulations, and his case laws, then you will live and thrive, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and so are misled, worshipping other gods and serving them, I’m telling you right now that you will definitely die. You will not prolong your life on the fertile land that you are crossing the Jordan River to enter and possess.

Deuteronomy 30:15-18

Think

There’s something in human nature that doesn’t love words like “command” and “obey.” Tell someone that you “command” them to do something, and immediately they’ll resist. So why does God, who knows our human nature, ask us to obey commandments?

This passage gives us a little insight. God is giving us a choice. God sets before us two paths, explains what each path entails, and we make the decision.

To follow the first path, love God and walk in God’s ways. The reward: blessings!

To follow the second path, turn away and don’t listen to God. The reward: “You will not prolong your life,” and “you will definitely die.”

God wants us to consider options, investigate actions, and weigh the benefits: God created that questioning streak in us. God also created us with a hunger to love and be loved, to seek blessings and a rich life. God wants us to walk the path of life and to receive the blessings that entails – but God allows us to choose that path ourselves.

Jane Claspy Nesmith

Pray

God of love:

Thank you for creating a questioning streak in me. And thank you for your patience in outlining the paths that I can choose.

Help me to choose the path that will bring me love and blessings forever.

Amen.

Go

Refreshed by God’s loving messages for you,

Prepare yourself for your journey.

Step out once more,

Ready to follow the path God has shown you.