LIFE TEEN PresentsSpread the WORD
“I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the LORD, your God, heeding his voice, and holding fast to him. For that will mean life for you…” – Deuteronomy 30:19-20
SITUATION EXPLAINED
In your opinion, are you a negative person or a positive person?
How about in other people’s opinions, the same answer?
SOLUTION OFFERED
Two sons were arguing about how wise their father was. The older brother advised his younger brother to always listen to the father because his experience and wisdom were so great. The younger brother disagreed, however, stating, “Dad isn’t that wise. I’m just as smart as he is, and I’ll prove it.”
The younger brother then approached a tree and captured a small bird. He brought the bird home, went into the living room and held the bird tightly in his cupped hands. The younger brother then posed the question to his father, “Dad, I have a small bird in my hands – tell me, is he alive or dead?”
The younger brother had decided that if the father replied “dead”, he would just open his hands and let the bird fly away, proving his father was wrong. If the father replied “alive”, then the boy would crush the bird in his hands, revealing a dead bird when opening them.
The boys’ father thought about the question for a moment, looked the younger son right in the eyes and replied very sincerely, “Son, the answer is in your hands.”
That is wisdom in action, the ability to see the bigger picture, see the choice before you and realize that your decision makes all the difference.
To bring life or to bring death on a daily basis…that ability, that answer is in MY hands and YOUR hands, each day. In the smallest of ways, many passing and seemingly unnoticeable, your life makes a difference every minute of every day – for better or for worse. The world is an ongoing play in which you play an integral part, even if you don’t see it. What affect is your part having this day?
The Lord is telling you clearly that each moment He is setting a choice before you, to follow Him and bring life, or to reject His truth and (as a result) bring death. Which one will you and I choose? He’s asking us, “Do you want to be part of the solution, or part of the problem?” There is no “middle ground” here, and there is no option to “pass” on this question – it’s a question everyone must ask themselves, and it’s a choice that everyone, especially everyone who calls themselves a Christian, will make and MUST make.
I love when God is obvious with me. Many times I make God’s will, His call and my response FAR more complicated than they are in reality. Often, out of fear or selfishness, I like to “cloud” the “decision” of doing what is right (and usually more difficult) by focusing on the immediate rather than the eventual, on the “now” instead of the “everlasting”.
God though, in His wisdom, sets before me (and you) choices each day, throughout the day that offer us the opportunity to build up or to tear down, to bring life or to destroy it. Sometimes when we’re self-absorbed, cranky, tired, stressed, hungry, etc. we can very quickly destroy everyday life around us, tearing down people with our negativity and not even realize it. Other times, however, when we’re doing well in our faith and our prayer lives are strong (and, as a result, we’re more self-aware) we see more clearly how our attitude and tone can affect other people; we try harder to build up than to tear down. Those are the moments that God rejoices in us and His Spirit most perfectly flows through us.
What mark on the world will your life leave this day?
The answer, quite literally, is in YOUR hands…
SALVATION GIVEN
“I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the LORD, your God, heeding his voice, and holding fast to him. For that will mean life for you…” – Deuteronomy 30:19-20
Hey God, I choose life.