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The Israelites had been forced to live in the
wilderness for 40 years because they refused to trust God to deliver them from the enemy they faced in the promised land.
They had a choice to make at that time and the choice that they made brought death in the wilderness to all that were over
20 years of age, with the exception of two people — Joshua and Caleb. Now, 40 years later, they were given a second
chance to choose. If they made the right choice, nothing would hinder them from entering the Promised Land. Once in the promised
land they were to adhere to the words Moses spoke in these two verses: Love God, Walk in His Ways and Keep His Commandments.
If they did this, they would be blessed in the Promised Land.
First
we are told to love God. The first and greatest Commandment is to love the Lord your
God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This means that you should love God better than we love
ourselves. When we love ourselves better than we love God, we will become depressed when we face afflictions and tribulations.
However, we should pay attention to 1 Peter 4:7
which states: “cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
God will not permit you to face your problems
alone, and He will work them out for you. So everyday, when we face afflictions and tribulations, we will have to make a choice
to either love God enough to let him solve our problems or chose to solve them ourselves. When you chose God, you chose life
and prosperity over death and disaster or destruction.
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Secondly we are told to walk in his ways. In other words
we are told to live the life expected of us as Christians. Psalms 119:1-3 states: Happy are people of integrity who follow
the law of the Lord. Happy are those who obey his decrees and seek him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with
evil and they walk only in his ways.
To walk in His ways you must adhere to what is
right, avoid what is wrong. A person who compromises with evil is one who always find excuses for the wrong they do. They
constantly lay the blame on someone else. However, one who walks in the ways of the Lord, will make a choice to do the right
thing, they will always choose life and not death.
Thirdly
we are told to keep His command-ments. Keeping His commandments is to obey Him. We
should desire to obey the Lord. Jesus Christ said in John 14:15: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” When we really love someone, we try to please
them. Husbands/wives, children/parents, all strive to please each other. Since God loves us, He strives to satisfy us. We
benefit most from God’s blessing when we obey Him. The choice is ours. If we choose to disobey God, we choose death
and destruction but if we choose to obey God, we will choose life with all His blessings.
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Finally, you should know that the promise to
the Israelites of a land of plenty, is symbolic of our present day Salvation (a place where we may reap bountiful blessings
from God). The Israelites crossed the Jordan River for the promise;
we must cross from a life of sin and dearth to a life of blessings in Jesus Christ.
This is a choice of life or death. Moses told
the Israelites: “I command you today,” not tomorrow, but today. What Moses was really saying is: Everyday of your
life, you will have to make a choice—the Choice of Life or Death. The key in making that choice is to love God, walk
in His Ways, and obey Him, everyday and you will be choosing life and not death. The choice is yours. Will you chose life or will you choose death?
If you have read this message and do not know
a Christian life with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and you have a desire to reap eternal blessings, please pray the following prayer:
“Dear Lord Jesus: I believe that you are the Son
of God and that you died on the cross, was buried and raised to life on the third day that I may receive remission for my
sins and that I may live eternally with you. I am a sinner and ask your forgiveness
for all my sins and I pray that you will help me to live my new life in you. I
accept you as my Lord and Savior from this day forward. Amen”
If you prayed this prayer, you have become a
born again child of God and are a recipient of eternal salvation.
Please email us at prayer@mtcministries.org
May the
Lord bless you.
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