Read
The Lord
Moses said to Israel:
1 I have told you everything the Lord your God will do for you, and I've also told you the curses he will put on you if you reject him. He will scatter you in faraway countries, but when you realize that he is punishing you, 2return to him with all your heart and soul and start obeying the commands I have given to you today. 3-4Then he will stop punishing you and treat you with kindness. He may have scattered you to the farthest countries on earth, but he will bring you back 5to the land that had belonged to your ancestors and make you even more successful and powerful than they ever were.
6You and your descendants are stubborn, but the Lord will make you willing to obey him and love him with all your heart and soul, and you will enjoy a long life.
7Then the Lord your God will remove the curses from you and put them on those enemies who hate and attack you.
8You will again obey the laws and teachings of the Lord, 9and he will bless you with many children, large herds and flocks, and abundant crops. The Lord will be happy to do good things for you, just as he did for your ancestors. 10But you must decide once and for all to worship him with all your heart and soul and to obey everything in The Book of God's Law.
Reflect
This is the human story. God offers life and we choose death. But God still holds out life and invites us to embrace a relationship with him as our Creator.
The Lord, in these blessings and cursings, establishes the two ways life will play out: with obedience will come blessing and with disobedience will come consequences. But even when God’s people choose disobedience, we see that the Lord will continue to seek a way to redeem and gather a people to himself. Even after he punishes, the Lord will still be working to gather his people and fulfill his promises.
The Lord set out to assemble a great nation, giving them a great land, gathering together a people, and giving them a new heart. This is the purpose of our God, and he will accomplish this purpose. There will be a day when the Lord will finally find a people who will enjoy their Lord and who will celebrate the fruit of obedience!
Jesus comes and tells us that in him alone, we will find abundant life. The same choice confronts us every day – some will overcome and some will not. God continues to invite us to choose life. The letters to the churches in Revelation 2-4 outline this same choice. The promise is the blessing that will come to those who overcome the world. God is inviting us to turn to him and be his people.
Respond
Father, thank you for your gracious plan, for your tireless love, for pursuing us and urging us to choose life. Today is always the day of salvation. Today is the day to choose life. Lord I turn to you, I join you in the story you are writing.
Dwayne Uglem
Dwayne and his wife, Janell, have made Caronport their home for the past 26 years. The Lord has blessed them with four daughters: Amy married to Caleb and their first grandchild, Hudson; Victoria; Carlie; and Lindsey. Dwayne's 26 years on staff at Briercrest College and Seminary has included a variety of administrative roles: Registrar, Associate Dean, VP Research and Planning, VP Finance and Operations, and VP Education. After a year serving as interim president, Dwayne was appointed president in July 2005. A graduate of Briercrest College and Seminary, Dwayne completed his Ed.D. with Nova Southeastern University. A love for numbers, research, and organizational culture have lead Dwayne into teaching areas that focus on organizational learning and planning, research, and assessment strategies. Dwayne thoroughly enjoys gardening, teaching the Bible, cooking, history, and mechanical work.