From:
Date: September 25, 2019
Subject: It's September 25; Good Morning Union


“This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you…”           Deuteronomy 30:19

Moses is the main character in, and author of, this fifth book of the Torah. The name of the book, which was give much later, actually means “the second, or repeated, legislation,” but the Jews just call it “these words,” after the first words in the book. Historically it appears to have been written right before Moses died and Joshua took over to lead the Children of Israel back into their Promised Land after 40 years in the wilderness.

Moses has done a commendable job of leading those 1,000,000+ sometimes praising but most of the time, it appears, complaining people for all those years. Now he is about to die and this book is like his final message. It’s mostly a review of the previous 3 books in our Bible; sort of a summary. “OK, I’m about to die. Let me remind you of what God has been trying to say to you through me for the last 40 years!”

And it ends with a couple verses that I have been reviewing the last few days. The end of the book is sort of like the conclusion to the conclusion. “So, let me summarize the summary before I take my last breath.” And that’s the context of my verse for today. “Let me see if I can make this as clear as possible—‘This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you—I have set before you life and death; blessings and curses, life and prosperity or death and destruction…” Wow! This is like a true or false quiz question, or a multiple choice item with only A and B for choices!

And I see Moses almost begging the people when he says, “CHOOSE LIFE!” And the reason to make that choice? “So that you and your children after you might live.” And how were they to “choose life?” Important question because this is where I can gain my ah-ha for today and make application again of God’s word in my life right now. Moses said, “Choose life” by:

  1. “Loving the Lord your God
  2. Listening to His voice
  3. Walking in His ways
  4. Keeping His commandments and decrees
  5. Holding fast to Him.”

“Please choose life,” said Moses, and then he died. Parting wisdom from the leader; clearly outlined wisdom for the followers; insight and direction for me today.

Have a great day “choosing life,”

Pastor Rich

Quote for the day:      “Jesus didn't say, ‘Follow Christians.’ He said, ‘Follow Me.’"