Choose

Women, I want you to take this blog seriously today.  My heart’s desire is for women of faith to be courageous and walk in the truth even when the world around them seems to be sprinting in the opposite direction.  I want you to choose God over the world.

Listen to the words of Moses in Deuteronomy 31: 11-13.  To the priests he says “you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.  Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”

Moses was soon to die and was preparing his people to move forward without him into the Promised Land.  What were some of his final words?  To paraphrase the above verses: “Make sure the people hear and know the words of God, make sure they obey the Lord, they must fear the Lord or they will come to ruin!”

We need to be proclaiming these same words today.  We must know God’s words to us; we need to know his instructions and we need to obey him completely.  Otherwise we will come to ruin like those who ignored the words of God long ago.

God told Moses what his people would do after they entered the bountiful land they would soon possess. Read these words and see if it reminds you of America today.  Deuteronomy 31:20, “For when I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to give to their fathers, and they have eaten and are full and grown fat, they will turn to other gods and serve them, and despise me and break my covenant.”

The Israelites long ago lived in a blessed land filled with abundance and freedom.  When they became comfortable, they forgot the words of their God, no longer obeying his commands.  Maybe even the priests, who were charged with the task of reading these words out loud to the people, forgot (or outright neglected) their job and did not remind the people of God’s instructions.  They did not correct their bad behaviors for fear of offending them; they did not proclaim God to the people as they were instructed.

Oh, how these same words so accurately describe today’s world.  We as a country, a blessed people, have neglected God’s words and instructions to us and have turned to serve other gods.  Worthless gods of success, fleshy pleasures and greed.  We have grown fat on God’s blessings and have turned our backs on him, now despising him and his word.  Not even those behind a pulpit often preach the truth any longer.  Under the guise of acceptance and love, truth is shoved out the door; no longer desired or found worthy.

What happens to those who choose to disobey God?  The answers are painfully spelled out in detail just a page back.  Deuteronomy 28 contains the lengthy lists from God given through Moses; blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience.  The blessings cover 14 verses and are grand; the curses cover 54 long verses and are excruciating even to read.  Moses, responsible for this group of God’s people, wanted everything completely spelled out and crystal clear so that the Israelites would make a well informed decision. 

After describing the blessings and curses in detail, he then calls the people to choose.  Deuteronomy 30:19-20 “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, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him.” Moses offers two options and proceeds to tell them exactly what to choose, the obvious choice – life! 

I challenge all of you ladies to read these chapters in Deuteronomy today and think on what is happening in the world around us.  Just as very few chose to follow God back then, very few choose to follow God today.  Do not be swayed by the world and the opinions so prevalent all around you.  Don’t form your beliefs to how you feel and then try to make God’s word fit your desires.  It doesn’t work that way.  There is only one perfect God and you are not him, you don’t get to rewrite scripture.

There is absolute truth and you must seek it earnestly. You must know God’s word (the Bible) by hearing it, reading it and studying it.  The Word of God is the standard upon what all else must be measured, weighed and judged.  If you do not agree with what it says or do not desire to obey God, then this faith is not for you and you must stop claiming to be a Christian, you are not a follower of God. 

Ladies, the decision remains the same, choose this day whom you will serve.  There are only two choices and will never be more; it’s the world or God.  Decide.  The rules are clear and do not bend.  Do not think that Almighty God should bend for you or change his commands so you can live as you desire.  He does not have to tolerate anything, he is God.  He is just and he is good.  I choose to follow him.  I enCOURAGE you to choose the same.