The Jesus Bible Reading Plan / Choose Life

The Jesus Bible Reading Plan

Day 24 of 365 CHOOSE LIFE At the end of his life, knowing that he would die without ever entering the promised land, Moses once again held out the covenant promises of God to the nation of Israel. In many ways, the challenge to "choose life, so that you . . . may live" (v. 19) is as old as mankind. In the garden, God held out the same promise to Adam and Eve (Ge 2:15 - 17), though they made the foolish choice and pursued death. Ever since, all people have been trapped in a cycle of sin. Certainly there have been times when people returned to God, but these seasons have been short-lived. Moses, at this point the leader of God's people for 40 years, knew full well the inability of the people to choose life that they could live. Throughout their journey, they had consistently murmured against God, doubted Moses' leadership and been given over to death and destruction. Moses began his final sermons to the people of God on the plains of Moab with a vivid recounting of the gory details of their rebellion in chapter 1 of this very book. Even Moses, the great deliverer, had been unable to consistently choose life; therefore he died without ever stepping foot on the ground that he had been pursuing for 40 years (3:21 - 29). Yet, he again reminded the people of their need to choose life. By this point, the entire generation that scorned the promises of God and were forced to wander in the wilderness had died. This new generation could vividly remember the death of their parents in these wilderness years. They now were faced with a decision: Would they follow in the path of their ancestors, disobey God and die - or would they be a new generation who trusted God, walked in his ways and lived bountifully in the land of promise? Jesus' life and ministry ushered in hope for all those trapped in the cyclical pattern of sin and death. He fulfilled God's promises to the people by giving them a path to life. John wrote that Jesus claimed to be "the way and the truth and the life" (Jn 14:6). By coming to him, people can find the path to life, not through conformity to a system of rules, but by submission to the person of Christ. In him is life and life to the full (Jn 10:10). Jesus, I want to choose life. I want to choose you. Help me to make each decision for you, so that I don't fall into the cyclical pattern that causes so much suffering. Amen. Deuteronomy 30:11-20 NASB 11 "For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?' 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?' 14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it. Choose Life 15 "See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; 16 in that I command you today to love the L ord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the L ord your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it. 17 But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, John 10:10 NASB 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.