Life is full of choices. Especially as Americans, we are faced with a lot of them, aren’t we? Several years ago, I was talking to a friend who was home from the mission field for a couple of months. I asked her what was most challenging about being back. Surprisingly, she said, “Choices!” She said, “In India, things are pretty simple. But here, I go to the store and find 30 kinds of cereal and shampoo and toothpaste! It’s overwhelming!”  

Although sometimes challenging, choices are important. Because beyond what brand of toothpaste we use, the choices we make today will help shape who we become, and even help determine the direction of our lives.

At Christ Church, we are making our way through our sermon series called, “On The Move,” based on the Book of Deuteronomy. It’s interesting that much of Deuteronomy is about the choices Israel will make as they prepare to enter the promised land. Will they choose to follow and obey the Lord, or will they reject Him and go their own way? In Deuteronomy 30, Moses has this word for Israel. He says,  

“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!” (Deuteronomy 30:19)

What an invitation! “Oh, that you would choose life!” It’s an invitation for Israel to choose the Lord. And it’s an invitation for us, too!

Just like then, our lives now are full of choices we make day after day. For example, think about our health. Several times today we will make choices about what to eat or not eat. Although small, these recurring choices determine not only how well our clothes fit, but also how good we feel. And ultimately, they help shape our long-term health.

Or consider our relationships. How we speak to our spouse or invest in our children today, and again tomorrow, will help shape those relationships over time.

When it comes to our relationship with the Lord and His place in our lives, we have a choice. TODAY.  Will we trust ourselves or will we look to the Lord? Self-reliance or surrender? Play it safe or take a step of faith, trusting God as He leads us?

As we seek the Lord consistently, daily, even in the little things, ultimately, we are saying “yes!” to Jesus, who said, “I am the way the truth and the life.” (John 14:6).  As we choose Jesus today, as we orient our lives toward following Him, we are choosing life – life eternal and life abundant.

Christ Church - “Oh, that you would choose life!” What an invitation! And today is another opportunity, in large and small ways, to say  “yes” to Jesus and “yes” to life!