"See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse - the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today, the curse if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known" (Deuteronomy 12:26-28)
It's ALWAYS a choice. It was a choice back then for the Israelites and it is a choice for us today. Not just a choice for our eternal life in a long-term spiritual sense, but it is a very real choice every day as we choose to either live in obedience or turn away in defiance of God's plan for us. We can easily wander in the desert, or be delivered to the valley that drinks rain from heaven.
I have to choose every day...will I read my latest e-book or favorite blog (or will I dive into the Word and learn the truth)...will I forgive (because He has forgiven me for so much more)...will I be humble (how much more did He humble himself for me)...will I love (because He first loved me)?
Yesterday I heard the whispering of the Holy Spirit asking me to repay a hurt with a kindness. I was still mad and upset when that small voice said what I should do. I literally rolled my eyes and said (out loud) "Are you serious"?!? The small voice just repeated what I was being asked to do...and I whined and complained as I prepared to do what I needed to. "Where is my apology? Why do I always have to be the one to make things better...can't I just be angry for a while"?? SO, after I was working on what I was asked to do for a little while...I took a little break - and saw I had an email message from the other person in this scenario. It was the most beautiful heart-felt apology, opening up communication about things I was unaware of that they were dealing with. I immediately said (out loud) "Thank You for asking me to do this". Not only did I get to experience the blessing of obedience...I was able to be a conduit for God's grace and love to this person in a real and meaningful way.
I'm still riding high off this choice...but today I'll be making some more. Hope I get it right again! :)
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please don't read this and think you have to earn God's blessings or salvation. A review of Ephesians 2:8-9 should clear this up "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." I've accepted what God's already given me through Jesus. Any time I choose to act in these ways, it is a response of gratitude. I cannot choose to study the Bible, forgive, be humble, or love others so that I can earn what God freely gives.
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