Daily Delight

"Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, 'Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?' Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, 'Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?' No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it'." -Deuteronomy 30:11-14 (NIV)

In the following verse, God sets out very simplistic choices for His people— a choice of life and prosperity or death and destruction. Immediately, He tells us how to have the best choice of the two. Then, like a good Father, He very clearly and concisely, tells us the consequences of turning away in disobedience.

Today, I am reminded of a story our late pastor often told about disciplining his children in love. He wanted to teach them to stay out of the street, so he set up a boundary for his children and told them not to cross it. He repeated to his children the truth that they could get hit by a car, possibly resulting in death. Yet his children continued to disregard the boundary, which frustrated and saddened him.
Finally, a brilliant idea came to mind. He would illustrate the consequences of their disobedience if they ran into the street. He took a watermelon outside, and when he saw a car coming down the street, he rolled the watermelon across the boundary line and in front of the car. As you can imagine, the car squashed the watermelon. Wide-eyed and a bit overwhelmed, the children grasped the lesson. The father gathered the children in his arms and spoke of his love for them and his desire that they not turn out like the watermelon.

This example shows the love and compassion of our heavenly Father. Our God is good, and in His Fatherly love for us, He makes His desire for us very clear. But He still lets us choose —life or death, blessings or curses. 

Let’s choose to love the LORD, our God and obey Him. Let’s choose life! 

{photo: @oliviapplegate}

About the Author

Lisa Brittain
SATURDAY WRITER

Lisa Brittain and her husband, Randy, will soon be married 30 years. Together they are parents of two adult sons and share their home with three adopted pups. By day Lisa works as a receptionist at the local middle school. However, her mission is to reveal the important voice of each woman and teach her how to share her overcoming God stories

. 

It is Lisa’s true passion for Jesus and introducing women to Him, which flows in and through and around all the open moments of her everyday life. Connect with Lisa on her blog here.