Deuteronomy 30:19–20 (NET) “Today I invoke heaven and earth as a witness against you that I have set life and death, blessing and curse, before you. Therefore choose life so that you and your descendants may live! 30:20 I also call on you to love the Lord your God, to obey him and be loyal to him, for he gives you life and enables you to live continually in the land the Lord promised to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
We have choices to make in life; Who to marry, how many children to have, where to work, where to worship, who to worship, and so-on. The choices we make should determine our devotion, and the devotion we have should determine our choices.
Our spouse
Our spouses are the most important relationship that we have in this life! They need to be priority over anything but Jesus Himself. When we decided to marry them, we essentially committed ourselves to be completely devoted to giving them the best part of us forever/always! We need to be a people that bless our spouses with the security that we will never leave them, treat them with disrespect, choose anything as more important than them, and so-on. Our spouses should be the beneficiaries of blessings from a strong commitment we make to making every single day an opportunity to show them love in unique ways that they will be able receive.
Our Children
Our children have been brought into this world by the decision that we made together as a couple (and by the will of God). Our responsibility then is to give these children the best life they could ever have. We need to be devoted to them in our time, energy, and Spirituality. We need to be teaching them the Word of God, and putting them into positions of success in their own Spiritual journey. It’s not sports, career, height, weight, or anything other than Christ Himself that should matter more to us as their parents. We need to be praying for them always.
I find it very interesting that our decision to devote ourselves to God directly affects our children as well. “Therefore choose life so that you and your descendants may live!” I remember the days when my parents made the decision to leave the Amish religion, and the hardships that followed that decision. They understood the gospel of Jesus Christ and surrendered their lives to Him, and that meant that we couldn’t remain Amish because it went counter to their teachings. I am a byproduct of God’s grace, and the decision my parents made to follow after Jesus. They chose life in Christ, and my life received the direct benefit of that decision! Praise God.
Our Job
Our employers will definitely be affected by our devotion. Paul repeatedly tells us in his epistles to honor our masters (bosses), and to work for them as unto the Lord. When we work for a company, or an individual, we need to be as focused as we can to bringing them the most blessing through our devotion to them. Most of us choose where we work, so let’s not cause grief for them by being someone who is constantly trying to cheat the company, or stealing, or causing strife among the other workers. Be devoted to them.
Our Church
We have an endless amount of options for our place of worship in the US. We can choose whatever “flavor” of worship that suits us the best. I don’t think that is the healthiest thing in the world, but it is the case, nonetheless. The Church we choose to go to then should be blessed at the level of devotion we bring to it, right?
We need to be a people who bring ourselves to Church ready to serve, love , and grow in the context of fellowship with everyone in that place of worship. There should be no division, and division is a spirit that each of us is responsible for. We need to be eager to unite with one mind and to look out for each other. So, our devotion to the Church of our choice is super important; for us, for the others in that place, and for the representation of the Name of God!
Our God
When we decide to follow the One and only, true God of the universe- Jesus Christ, then we must do so with all of our heart, soul, mind , and strength. Our faith needs to be strongly rooted in the Truth of God’s Word. Our allegiance should be to Him as we look to obey Him through lives characterized by holiness and dedicated to righteousness. I agree with the Psalmist when he says, “Create for me a pure heart, O God! Renew a resolute spirit within me!” (Ps. 51:10). When we are committed to God, we experience the life that He offers us, and that can only be found in Him!
We do not want death and curses to follow us. We want life and blessings. This will happen for us if we choose to obey Him and remain loyal to Him always in the choices that we make!
Let’s be like Joshua and make the commitment that, “as for me and my house, we will worship the Lord!”
Be Loyal
Be Obedient
and
Be Resolved to follow after God with all of our hearts!
