The Gift of Freedom of Choice

Daily Devotional – Monday, November 28, 2022
…choose life that both you and your descendants may live.
Deuteronomy 30:19 (NKJV)

Picture this: You are a puppet. God controls your thoughts, words and actions. He chooses for you your plans, decisions, activities and friends. You have no freedom of choice.

How happy would you be? Would you consider God a loving Father if He denied you the liberty to choose what you want for your life? If God forced you to love Him, would he be a just God?

Liberty to Decide

Fortunately, God does not coerce us to love or obey Him. For example, when He created Adam and Eve and placed them in Eden, God gave them the liberty to choose whether to eat the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. He also stated the consequences of disobedience. (Genesis 2:17).

Similarly, in the wilderness, God used Moses to told the Israelites, “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

Choose Life

Notice that the quality of life of the Israelites would depend on them choosing life and not death. If they chose to obey God, they He would bless them. Conversely, if they disobeyed God, they would reap curses and death.

Another demonstration of the gift of choice is in the most famous verse in the Bible. Jesus says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).

Decide for Yourself

Again, eternal life or eternal death is a product of choice. God does not force us to believe in Jesus. He states the rewards and consequences of our decisions, and then allows us to exercise this gift of choice.

God wants us to obey Him because we have experienced His love, not because we fear going to hell. Jesus states, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15). God is so loving that He gives us the right to choose to reject or accept Him.

The Gift of Freedom of Choice

Joshua’s message to the Israelites is ours, too. He urges, “…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” (Joshua 24:15). Moses advises, “…choose life that both you and your descendants may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19). The gift of freedom of choice is yours to enjoy.

Prayer
Dear God, thank You for the freedom of choice. Today, I choose Jesus and eternal life. I opt to love and obey You.