Choosing Life Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Luke 14:25-33
Choices are part of everyday in the world...
Most, we think, are mundane; paper or plastic, cash or charge, white or wheat etc.
Serving God is an everyday choice too ... that happens right in the middle of the mundane.
The past year has taught me that many parents have made no choice for their children about church and about God. Many parents, if not even most parents, function in what George Barna in Revolutionary Parenting described as a default mode in which they expect somebody else to raise their children. Parents look to childcare workers, the media, teachers, coaches, pastors and youth workers, and other "professionals" to raise their children.
The default mode's end result is that many have made no choices and their children grow up not knowing what their parents believe or value. 7th graders come to confirmation not even knowing the Lord's prayer because parents have not consciously chosen to teach it. The effect of making no choice is real.
Moses argues in Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and Jesus argues in Luke 14:25-33 that our choices do matter. Experience teaches that the biggest choices aren't one time choices; they are everyday choices that appear in middle of the mundane but that effect our relationship to God and the people God has placed in our lives.
The challenge that scripture gives to us today isn't to make one decision for God; rather its to make every decision for God. For Moses their was no wavering in Deuteronomy 30:19. וּבָחַרְתָּ בַּחַיִּים Choose life. Choose וּבָחַרְתָּ coming from the root בָּחַר the same root that was used to describe God's choice of Abraham and Israel and בַּחַיִּים coming fromחַיִּים (see Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew English Lexicon of the Old Testament).
For Jesus the Cross would be all consuming; and for those who choose to follow in his steps the cross will be equally consuming. We'd like to a have faith that fits neatly into a fine space in our lives; but Jesus doesn't offer such a faith. He offers eternity in exchange for surrendering everything today.
2 comments:
It is one of my regular reminders for people, that the vows made in baptism are made by the parents in sponsors - they are the ones who promise to teach their children about Scripture, the ten commandments, and how to pray. It is they - not the church, not the courts, not the schools - who are responsible for ensuring that their children know those things.
John,
Your parents gave me your blog site. I ran across them in the MN handmade Tile association. I just popped in to say hello and check out your site. It is very ambitious and looks great! Check mine out at www.GrizzlyGroundswell.com if you get a chance. Good to know that all is well with you. I am actually traveling up to see Chris Nelson and install some handmade tile in his new home in Michigan. It should be a good time. I will say hello for you.
God Bless,
Chad
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