The Choices We Make

Big Idea of the Message: God wants to bless us with abundant life.

Promise from God

As we look at these verses there are a few things that present themselves - first God wants to bless His children - second His children must be obedient to His commands;

Here Moses is specifically talking to Israel about how they must repent (turn away from) and return (come back to) to God;

Because of their obedience God will then reveal move His grace and He will bring them back from where they had been scattered;

But also notice that you or your appears 36 times in the first 6 verses, while yes Moses is talking to the nation of Israel there are individual requirements place upon them;

God had a promise for the nation of Israel, His still chosen people, but for the nation to receive the promise the individuals must be obedient and loyal to God;

God has a desire that is specific for all people as grouping - that none should perish (die a second death) but that all should come to Him through Jesus Christ;

He has a promise for those that are obedient and faithful to His commands;

How is your obedience today?

Change of Life

God was looking for change in Israel’s actions - something that would be overtly obvious to the world;

In Genesis 17 God commanded Abraham to physically circumcise himself and all the male that were with him as a symbol to the world of their difference because of God;

While God, and I think we use this as an excuse for bad actions, “looks at the heart of man” the world - whom we have been called to make disciples of is look at the outside;

How are you looking to the world - just as sinful as it is;

In the Book of Romans it talks about a newness of life that only can come through Jesus Christ - what change does the world see in you;

Note this the phrase “The LORD your God” appears 15 times in 20 verses - do you think Moses was trying to remind them of Whom they belong - do you remember Whom you belong?

Faith in God

Where is your faith today in the promises of God;

I know it can be hard because our world has gone bat crazy, the world, just as the Bible says in Isaiah 5:20, is calling good evil and evil good - well only some evils have gotten a pass;

However God never promised and easy ride but He did say “trust and follow me” we ever sing a hymn called “Trust and Obey”;

So I ask again where is your faith in the promise of God today?

Choice

You have to make a choice every second of every minute of every hour and of every day to trust in Him;

You have to decide your level of trust - which by the way is all or none;

You have to make the choice!

Application Point: We have a choice of walking in God’s ways or not.

Cross

Romans 10:6–10 ESV

6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.