Choose Life

Why didn’t God make a robot of you, to act only according to His instructions? Why are you given self-determination, the freedom to choose? Because He prefers to enjoy a mutual relationship with you—as an individual and as part of a collective body. Love is not LOVE when forced or compelled. God prefers that we abide by LOVE willingly, protect it willingly, and nurture it willingly.

Take note: the buzz word is righteousness. In the movie Jerry McGuire, Dicky Fox said, “If the heart is without LOVE, then the treasures of the head mean nothing.”  

Righteousness is component to restoration. So strive to be righteous. Be humble and teachable. Speak only what is necessary and what is righteous. Love people and use things, not the other way around. Don’t mistreat people. Keep on loving even when offended. Do not confine your ambitions to your own selfish interests. Don’t hesitate to help others carry their overburdens. Do soul-winning beginning with your immediate family. Be a responsible parent to your children. Be true to your friends in adversity as well as in prosperity. Have no other gods. Pray to the Most Holy Name. Prioritize Sabbath-observance over a vacation, romantic date or income-opportunity. Be larger than your vocation. Don’t lose your individuality in a crowd. Don’t believe that shrewdness, cunning and ruthlessness are the best qualities for winning success. Don’t compromise with wrong. Say No with emphasis while the rest of the world says Yes. Do not be ashamed or afraid to stand for truth when it is unpopular. Put character above earthly wealth or honor. Value and walk with integrity. Be honest in small things as in great things. Don’t be afraid to die for love.Do your best not to miss the mark.

²⁶ I am giving you the choice today between God’s blessing or God’s curse. ²⁷ There will be blessing if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I am giving you today, ²⁸ and a curse if you refuse them and worship the gods of other nations. DEUTERONOMY 11 tlb

¹⁵ See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction… ¹⁹ Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. DEUTERONOMY 30

²⁰ Choose to love the Lord your God. DEUTERONOMY 30 tlb

²⁰ Listen to His voice, and hold fast [cling] to Him, for the Lord is your life. DEUTERONOMY 30

²² Do not merely hear the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. JAMES 1

¹⁴ You know it and can quote it, so now obey it. DEUTERONOMY 30 tev

²⁸ Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and obey it. LUKE 11  

¹³ For it is not those who hear the Law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the Law who will be declared righteous. ROMANS 2 

Nothing Too Late

You might feel that you are way too deep in shit to rise as a covenanter and coworker of God. The scribe felt that way before. He was stubborn, proud and aged in sin when God called him. How he felt terribly unworthy of his calling! Yet God chose him to write this book. Why? Maybe so the reader might realize that God is the real author, for the sinful is incapable of writing the book on his own. Maybe so the scribe might be enlightened, mend his ways, and be removed from the curse. Maybe because the stubborn, once transformed into a coworker of God, would have better chances of standing firm in his faith and of giving the enemy lingering headaches.

It was never easy (and still it is not easy) for the scribe to live by God’s instructions. To him, it has been fierce struggle since Day 1. Frustration, discouragement and disillusionment would envelope him every time a sinful inclination in him would prevail over his renewed mind. Fortunately for him, God is ever present to goad him to keep on with the struggle, saying, “Do you love me Y’jose? Are you listening? If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. He who does not love Me will not obey My teaching.”   

Today the scribe is far from being perfect, but he is not as stubborn, proud and sinful as before. God has refashioned him—and is refashioning him still.

God is also calling you. That you have devoted time to read this book is no accident. God is dishing out to you the food and drink of enlightenment because He loves you. He sees your yearning for Him. You may be in deep shit, but God is calling you anyway. God loves you no matter how ugly your current status in life is.

“God loves you as if you were the only person on earth,” said Rick Warren.

God is making a call for love and waiting for a responsive heart, a personal decision. We say, heed the call. Let God pluck you from your situation. Let Him refashion you in His image and likeness. Let Him restore you to your original state. The sooner you let Him do it, the lesser your difficulties, grief and pains will be. The sooner you let Him do it, the lesser repair works will have to be done in you; and shorter will be your healing and recovery period. Give God a free hand and you will be a new creation smelling fresh, shalom-filled, victorious and looking radiantly beautiful.    

⁴⁷ I will show what he is like who comes to Me and hears My words and puts them into practice. ⁴⁸ He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. ⁴⁹ But the one who hears My words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete. MATTHEW 7

In case you have not noticed, God is moving to shower you with abundant blessings. Welcome your healing, creativity, success, prosperity, joy, serenity, restoration, reconciliation… Heed the trumpet call.

¹⁵ Today, if you hear God’s voice speaking to you, do not harden your hearts against Him. HEBREWS 3

³ Blessed are [the humble] the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

⁴ Blessed are those who mourn [who forsake the laughter of this world], for they will be comforted.

⁵ Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled [satiated].

⁷ Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. MATTHEW 5         

We hope to meet you in person someday, to hear you testify to the love and goodness of God in your life. But in the meantime we say Tetelestai! to you. Tetelestai is Aramaic meaning our work is discharged, executed, accomplished, completed, concluded... It was the last word of the Son of Man at the cross.