Gleanings for April 18

CHOOSE LIFE

Jeremiah 21: 8 NKJV “You shall say to this people, thus says the Lord, ‘Behold I set before you the way of life and the way of death.’”

Deuteronomy 30: 15 & 19 NKJV “See I have set before you today life and good, death and evil…I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing, THEREFORE CHOOSE LIFE, that both you and your descendants may LIVE!”

Yesterday we brought out the truth that God has made Jesus Christ our WISDOM; we also emphasized the importance of our making right choices. The verses recorded above once again help us to know that the choice is up to each individual. God has a beautiful plan laid out for each person, Jeremiah 29: 11 NKJV says:

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

The Amplified Bible says it like this:

“For I know the thoughts and PLANS that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you HOPE in your final outcome.”

“To give you HOPE in your final outcome;” God’s heart of love is crying out to all people: “Please take the path I have chosen for you—the one that leads to LIFE.” We who are part of the Christian Church observe Passion Week and Resurrection Sunday each year, a time we are especially reminded of the price our Lord paid to redeem us; I pray that you are someone who continues to fellowship with other believers throughout the year and not just on special occasions and possibly during the Christmas Season.

Pastor Steve has been sharing with our congregation the importance of staying “in the Word; in God’s Love; and in fellowship.” As an illustration he used a cord with three strands. We read in Ecclesiastes 4: 12: “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him; and a THREEFOLD cord is not quickly broken.”

Scripture is the foundation for knowing the love God has for all people. As we grow in knowledge of THE WORD, we will come to understand more and more, how much God really does love us.

The result of that knowledge should inspire you and me to be in constant fellowship, first of all with God—the Source of LOVE—and as we have the right relationship with God, our fellowship with one another will follow and produce growth that will help us to CHOOSE the path God desires, which is; to give us HOPE in our final outcome.

While on that path we can have God’s PEACE. Isaiah 30: 15b: “In returning and rest you shall be saved. In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” We can have peace and be confident because we know:

THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH!!