Day 1, Year 1 Choosing Life
The author, believed to be Moses, once said to the ancient Israelites, “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.” (Deuteronomy 30:19 NKJV)
Life in this world is inevitably encountered with setbacks, which might lead to discouragement and despair. Despite the suffering and disaster in this world, however, you can still choose life and blessings, and distance yourself from death and calamity. This is one of the fundamental principles of life. If your philosophy for life is flawed, your faith in the Lord might stumble and reap failures. Over the years, I have found that many principles in the Bible are written for those who are psychologically positive and spiritually healthy. For example, rather than letting past negative influences from various experiences dominate us, we could face and overcome adversity with a positive attitude. One commonality among all major religions is that all provide an alternative perspective and strength to rise above pessimism or negativity, face life positively, and even create miracles.
When we face death, choose life; when facing disaster, choose blessings—this is the starting point of having a proper attitude toward life. This is not tabooing death or disaster, but facing them with the right mindset. In other words, with the right attitude toward life, we could rely on Jesus to solve different problems and lead to His truly victorious life.
In the past, after Moses delivered God’s commandments in the wilderness, he called upon heaven and earth to persuasively invite the Israelites to choose life and listen to God’s words, to receive blessings and spiritual life. Indeed, those who choose true life will ultimately believe and obey God’s words. And those who choose to believe in God’s words will certainly receive true life. The Israelites, who had experienced the loss of their nation for nearly two thousand years, could attest to this.
The word “life” in the latter part of today’s verse, chayyim in Hebrew, refers to “alive, living, lively, reviving, appetite; revival.” Thus, choose in your daily life the messages, beliefs, friends, etc. that give you vitality, for your life to be rejuvenated and renewed, and for your spirit to acquire a greater hunger to absorb illuminating truth from God.
Reflection questions:
1) Are you willing to choose blessings and all things alive in God’s sight in the future?
2) Do you agree that those who choose life will ultimately choose to believe and obey God’s Word? Why?