Choose Life

"'Today I have given you the choice between life and death,

between blessings and curses.

Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the 

choice you make.

Oh, that you would choose life,

so that you and your descendants might live!

You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God,

obeying him,

and committing yourself firmly to him.

This is the key to your life.

And if you love and obey the LORD,

you will live long in the land the LORD swore

to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.'"

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NLT

Paper or plastic.

With or without nuts.

30- or 15-year fixed.

Sell or rent.

Caffeine or no caffeine.

Now or later.

Life is full of choices.  I make dozens each day, some without even thinking.  Others take much prayer and consideration.  

When God drew me to Jesus, enlightening me of my need for a Savior, I invited Him in as Lord of my life(John 6:44). As a result, I received the free gift of eternal life (John 3:16). Once I became a part of God's family through faith, I may have thought my choice had been made.  While my salvation is secure, I still have a decision to make that will result in blessing or trouble. Will I choose life or death?  

Words

I'll never be able to do that!

"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).

Why even try?  I'm a failure at everything I do.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

I can't touch them or see them but they have the power to bring life or death into a situation.  As a follower of Christ, I have the option of either using my words to tear myself and others down, or I can apply them to edify, encourage and inspire greatness.  

Before I prefer life through my speech, however, I will need to get control of my thought life.  I find it easy to think negative thoughts, worry about what may or may not happen, and analyze my circumstances in an effort to find a suitable solution.  

Instead, to begin choosing life, I must strain my thought life through the filter of Christ.  If a thought doesn't honor Him and line up with His principles, it doesn't belong in my mind (2 Corinthians 10:5).  If my way of thinking is negative and self-defeating, it must be replaced with lovely, pure and praise-worthy ideas (Philippians 4:8). If I tend to think more like the world than like God, then I must intentionally cooperate with the Lord as He transforms my mind (Romans 12:2).

Once I'm on the path to pure thinking, my words will tend to take more of a godly slant.  Soon, I will find myself pointing others to the life-giving words of Christ, encouraging them to carry on despite the difficulties of their circumstances.  I may even notice a change in the way I speak to myself, choosing to preach the truth of the Gospel to myself in an effort to spur on my faith.

I have the power to choose either life or death in the way I speak to myself and others.

Actions

"Actions speak louder than words."

"Talk doesn't cook rice."  Chinese proverb

"Talk is cheap."

"A barking dog is often more useful than a sleeping lion." Washington Irving

"Don't just talk the talk but walk the walk."

"Well done is better than well said." Benjamin Franklin

The world is filled with wisdom regarding the power of action.  God also has much to say about the influence of my actions on the world around me.  He says mere knowledge of Him and His ways is not enough.  When it comes to His Word, He wants me to be more of a doer than just a listener (James 1:22).

Therefore, when He says that love is of the utmost importance, I better pay attention to not just doing what God calls me to do, but to saturate my obedience with love (1 Corinthians 13).  It also means I must do more than just memorize the scripture that teaches me to value others above myself, but to show Him that I believe what He said by respecting all humans as His image bearers (Philippians 2:3).  In addition, I can't just study about forgiveness and letting go of hurt, but I am called to make it a practice to extend the mercy and grace I am so freely given (Matthew 6:14-15).

When I take the option to do as God says, He will use me to bind wounds, soften hearts and promote healing.  In these ways my actions have resulted in life, with God getting all the glory for the great things He has done. 

   

I have the power to choose either life or death through my actions.

Heart

"I left my heart in San Francisco." Douglass Cross/Tony Bennett

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched--they must be felt with the heart."  Helen Keller

"Keep love in your heart.  A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead." Oscar Wilde

"Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye." H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Everyone knows the heart is important; it determines my actions and sets the path for my feet.  If my heart is not in it, the work I do will not be my best.  

Samuel, the prophet and judge, learned how important the heart is to God when he was searching for the king who would replace the defiant Saul as the leader of Israel.  As he followed God's lead, travelling to Bethlehem in order to meet Jesse, he examined all of this man's fine-looking sons.  Judging by appearances, he determined the oldest as the one who must be God's chosen king.  Much to his dismay, however, God rejected each of the men until he got to the youngest, a lad named David who God saw as a man after His own heart  (Acts 13:22).

It is the heart that is important to God.  While I tend to size someone up based on their skills, abilities and stature, God pays attention to something of more value(1 Samuel 16:7).  Therefore, if I am to choose the way of life, I must also take note of the condition of my heart.  What do I treasure?  Who do I value?  How do I spend my time?  In what do I invest my money?  These are all questions that can help me determine where my heart is located (Matthew 6:19-21).  

If I'm more concerned with my bank account, making my own retirement of utmost importance, then my heart is rooted in the temporal.  If, however, I'm intent on using my financial resources to build God's kingdom, I'm treasuring the eternal.

If I hold my own rights as vital, then I'll jeopardize relationships and opportunities to give a testimony in order to defend my selfish interests.  If I replace that desire to uphold my own liberties with a regard for furthering the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I'll unveil my heavenly value system. 

If my focus is on pleasing myself and indulging in my own sensual desires, then I'll live a shallow life.  If, instead, I am centered on pleasing God and following His lead, my life will be rich and full.

I have the power to choose either life or death in the attitude of my heart.

God created His masterpieces with the ability to choose.  As a result, I must decide whether I'll pick life or death in the words I speak, the actions I take and the incline of my heart.  In these areas, it is my desire that I make the effort to choose life.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can remember the power of my words.

When do I speak carelessly, tearing myself or others down without a second thought?

How can I better honor God in the direction of my focus?

Originally posted on February 13, 2014

With My Mouth

"I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever;

with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness

to all generations."

Psalm 89:1 ESV

There are many ways to use my mouth.  I can speak out against injustice, fight cruelty, expose corruption.  I can inspire others to stand up for freedom and liberty, to defend our rights, to preserve our nation as it was created to exist.  I can get up on my soap box to enlighten others on how to live, what to wear, who we should become.  

There are many things that get my motor running and drive me to speak up.  While my mouth is used for a variety of causes, I can take a lesson from David and his desire that spoke to God's heart.  I can use my mouth to tell everyone of God's faithfulness; His steadfast character that never changes and on which can always be counted.  Now this is something to sing about, to shout from the rooftops!

Steadfast Love.  When I try to comprehend the concept of infinity, it hurts my brain.  Everything in my little world has a beginning and an end, a finite boundary.  Thinking about space going on forever is impossible.  How could I keep going and going and going and never find the end?  Or to ponder the fact that I could start counting now and never be finished; that I could just continue forever.  It's just plain crazy!

As much trouble as I have thinking about the limitlessness of space or the endlessness of the sequence of natural numbers, it cannot compare to the boundless nature of God's love.  His love can always be counted on because it is part of His character.  Paul tried to describe God's love by saying it was his desire that we could "have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is." (Ephesians 3:18 NLT)  It cannot be contained nor can it's immenseness be defined.  His love just is.

With this kind of love I can endure all things, let go of hurts, always have hope, rejoice in truth victories, never give up and cease from losing faith (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).  Rooted in God's love I will worry less about being right and getting my own way and more about letting His light shine through me.  I will be complete in the "fullness of life and power that comes from God." (Ephesians 3:19 NLT)

Let my mouth always speak of the steadfast love of God that is mine through faith in Jesus Christ.

Covenant.  I am securely planted in God's family, surrounded by brothers and sisters who share a common bond.  Even though I often feel as if I don't belong, like someone is about to tap me on the shoulder and say, "I'm sorry, but you can't be here.  I don't know who you think you are, but this is not for you," I do belong.  My membership in this exclusive family has been guaranteed for me by the promise of God that is delivered through Christ Jesus.  Through faith in Jesus Christ, I am secure in His clutches, firmly planted in the middle of a world-wide family who accepts me as one of their own (1 John 3:1, John 1:12).

Now this is something to shout about!  What a benefit I enjoy through faith in Jesus!  Doesn't every human want to belong?  To fit  in?  To feel welcomed and valued?  Isn't this message of having a place in this world one that each person could welcome, even if it may seem foreign or foolish on the surface?  Yes.  This is the kind of message that resonates with all image-bearers because it is why we were made.  We were created for God and without Him, we are left seeking for something that will satisfy.  He also placed in us a desire to connect in meaningful ways with other humans, and there is no better place to do this than in the center of a family where we are safe and valued.

Let my mouth always speak of the covenant of God that delivers me into His family by faith in Jesus Christ.

Might.  I love to read stories about great battles.  It's not that I like fighting and warfare, but I am drawn to clashes between good and evil.  There is also something in me that desires someone to fight for me, to love me so much that they are willing to risk life and limb to save me.  I guess it's the dream of every girl to be rescued from evil by her knight in shining armor.  

Perhaps God wired me this way to draw me to Jesus (John 6:44, John 14:6).  You see, out of His great love for me He sent Jesus as my Knight in shining armor to rescue me from certain death.  I was in jeopardy of suffering eternal punishment as well as living a meaningless life of worthlessness and emptiness until He saved me (John 3:16, Romans 6:23, John 10:10.  This unlikely hero plucked me from the clutches of Death, drawing me into His loving arms and giving me reason to carry on.  He is now my Warrior who fights my battles for me, vanquishes darkness and avenges evil.

Let my mouth always speak of the valor of a God who is my mighty Warrior.

It's easy for me to get up on a soap box.  While there are many issues of which I could speak, it would please God if I would follow in David's footsteps and use my mouth to make His faithfulness known to all.  I can count on His steadfast love, the security of His promise, and the power of His might: What a better purpose to use my mouth to speak!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will trust God to do as He has said He would do.

When do I doubt my inclusion in His family?

How am I trying to fight my own battles?

Legacy of Love

"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels,

but didn't love others,

I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

if I had the gift of prophecy,

and if I understood all of God's secret plans

and possessed all knowledge,

and if I had such faith that I could move mountains,

but didn't love others,

I would be nothing.

If I gave everything I have to the poor

and even sacrificed my body,

I could boast about it;

but if I didn't love others,

I would have gained nothing."

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NLT

How will I be remembered when I'm gone?  Will people remember the deep thoughts I shared, the times when I gave generously or the words I wrote?  When I am gone will my legacy point to me, or point to the God who loved me enough to send His Son to redeem me from the pit of death where my sins condemned me?

David Phelps, a tenor with the Gaither Vocal Band, performs a powerful song about the kind of legacy for which Jesus was known and to which I am called as His follower.  It is not a legacy of great works, mighty power and amazing accomplishments.  Instead, you and I are called to a legacy of love.  Listen to the words of "Legacy of Love" and ponder the purpose for which you were saved.  (John 13:34-35, 1 John 3:18)

Words

The scent of perfume filled the home as the guests dined in His honor.  This distinguished group had gathered to celebrate the miraculous salvation of Lazarus, but not everyone seemed to have the same focus.  While the woman lovingly anointed the feet of her Lord as a tender offering, another protested the extravagance.  "The poor would be better served by your generosity." (John 12:1-8)

While it is important for us to take care of those in need, and God made it clear in His Word that He wants us to generously give toward the poor, defending the cause of the weak, the widow and the fatherless, (Deuteronomy 15:11, Psalm 82:3-4) it is easy for the church to become just another institution providing social programs.

Doing things God's way means I'm not just concerned with His commands, but in how I carry them out.  Standing for the truth is important, but this does not trump the command that Jesus gave us to be known for our love for one another.  Sometimes the most compassionate thing I can do is to bear with my brother or sister until she can see the truth for what it is.  (Colossians 3:12-14)

Just as Mary's heart longed to demonstrate her love for Jesus in an excessively generous way, so should my actions be driven by my desire to show my love for my Lord and Savior.  When I'm so intent on saying what I know to be right, the message becomes more important than the one to whom the words are directed.  My passion for loving those around me should overpower my desire to be heard.

I will leave a legacy of love when my actions speak more of the love of Christ than do the words I say.

Faith

The man may have been small in stature, but he was big in faith.  He was despised by those who had suffered under his greedy hand, yet when faced with the One who offered the life he longed to live, Zaccheus accepted the gift without hesitation. (Luke 19:1-10)  

Instead of defending his cheating ways, Zaccheus immediately made things right, giving back four times what he had taken.   All those who knew him, though, sneered, "How could Jesus stoop so low as to dine with this traitor to our people?"  But Jesus knew the heart of the swindler turned philanthropist.

The love of Jesus allows me to always believe that people can change.  Instead of only focusing on the tenets of my faith, then, I can also trust God enough to rejoice in the truth even when it hurts.  I'm sure it wasn't easy for a wealthy tax collector to dip so deeply into his stores in order to do what was right, but his faith spurred him to do exactly that.  There is nothing else said of Zaccheus in scripture, but I wouldn't be surprised if he became an advocate for the outcasts of society, thus passing on the heritage he received from Jesus.  

I will leave a legacy of love when my faith in God drives me to never give up on anyone, even myself.

Generosity

The tinkling of the tiny coins falling into the coffers drew the attention of the Master.  While many men had given much money that day, no one gave as much as this elderly widow.  Why?  She gave all she had. (Luke 21:3-4)

How often do I give generously, but only out of my abundance?  I am quick to donate money when I have more than enough to cover my needs, but when times are tight I cut back on what I give.  It is easy for me to be generous with my stuff, but when it comes to taking the time to help someone, I'm stingy.  I am openhanded when it comes to volunteering where I feel comfortable, but I'm wary of pledging my help when I don't feel equipped or competent.

The widow's offering was remarkable because she gave out of her poverty, believing that God would come through to provide her needs for the next day.  If I saw God the same way she did, I would never hold back.  Then, a disruption to my schedule would become a divine appointment, a plea for help when the bank account is low would turn into an opportunity to watch God provide, and a needy neighbor on a busy day would develop into an opening for grace to flow.

I will leave a legacy of love when I freely give all of me.

It doesn't matter how much I do for God if love is not the hallmark of my life.  I can take a lesson from Mary, Zaccheus and the poor widow whose lives teach me how to not simply speak empty words, but demonstrate love in action; to trust God enough to give Him a chance to change the people in my life; and to generously give of myself.  In these ways, I will leave a legacy of love.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will keep the love of Jesus always in my consciousness.

What would those around me say about my life and it's legacy?

How can I pay more attention to the opportunities God gives me to pass on the love of Christ?