DCLM Daily Manna 8 October 2022 : Topic – Freedom Of Choice
Read previous DCLM Devotionals here
TOPIC: Freedom Of Choice
TEXT: Deuteronomy 30:6-20 (KJV)
6 And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
7 And the Lord thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee.
8 And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the Lord, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day.
9 And the Lord thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the Lord will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers:
10 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.
11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.
12 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?
13 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?
14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
16 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.
17 But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;
18 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.
19 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:
20 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.
KEY VERSE: “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” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
MESSAGE:
Eleanor Roosevelt served as first lady to the United States during her husband, President Franklin Roosevelt’s four terms in office. Her words ring true when she said, “One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words. It is expressed in the choices one makes. In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility.
That was the point the Lord was making when He reminded the children of Israel of their duty to consider their Choices in spiritual matters. The people of Israel were told of their obligation to God, if they were to continue to enjoy His blessings. They were encouraged to choose good rather than evil. The two choices had consequences. If they chose to hearken to God’s commandments, love the Lord and walk in His ways, they would be fruitful, prosperous and secured. But, if they chose to forsake Him and worship the gods of the heathen, curses would be upon them. The Lord promised to circumcise their hearts and grant them divine ability to love and serve Him.
Man’s freedom to choose is sacrosanct. God would not take the freedom to choose from him; otherwise, it would be morally unjust to judge him since he is a mere tool in God’s hands to regiment. Man is free to choose whichever direction he wants. Jesus stands at the door and knocks, and will only come in if sinners open the doors of their hearts. The Holy Ghost is grieved when anyone rejects the counsel of God, but does not impose Himself or force His presence on such.
We need to understand that whatever choice we make today, there shall be consequences. Though man is free to decide whether to worship God or not; at the end, He will hold him accountable for his actions.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
God will hold you accountable for your actions.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Luke 13-16
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.