Choose Life or Death

I hope you are all doing well. 

And greetings from the southern hemisphere:-) 

A sister posted this scripture...

And for some reason that last bit of it reminded me of this one from the Old Testament...which I would like to share here. 

"If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.

It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?

Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?

But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them."

(Deuteronomy 30:10-20)

I think it is so amazing that God gives each of us a choice in the matter. We don't deserve it. I know it is something that I have to trust people's futures to God. Yes we have to do our part to be a living witness and can share the gospel, but there is only so much we can do. The men and women around us each have to make their own choice...as we know, sadly most often choosing darkness. I know that is sometimes hard for me to let go of myself. Sometimes we think we can help things along, but God wants us women to be quiet and show the power of God in our meek and quiet spirit. Even in my family there are many, many times I could join the conversation and voice my opinions on this or that but it will accomplish nothing...even if it isn't directly theological. It's a lesson in self control.

Sometimes if I let my mind think too far ahead I can think, wow I will have a lot to get through in my life. But I remind myself it starts today. Today I cannot compromise. Today I must make sure I am striving on and have no known sin. Today I must be strong on the Word and truth and ready to give an answer. And that's how it will go...one day at a time for however long the Lord has for me. 

Yes, I know so many have fallen, or they go away grieved like the rich young ruler, which may be for women having to dress biblical or wear a head covering. But God's Word tells us it will be so in these last days. May we not focus on the fallen but on Christ Himself. And we know He will have with Him many victorious saints that have gone before us. Yes we grieve over the lost and disobedient as we know the end will not be good for them unless they repent but I know we must press on lest we turn back with them.

May we godly women endure...and choose life. Yes it might be really hard at times...but we know this bit of scripture..."greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4b). He will not leave us or forsake us...as long as we don't turn our backs on Him. 

Praise God for the wonderful offer of salvation.

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

(John 3:14-21)

See the biblical gospel to eternal life here.