Blogging Toward Sunday, February 19
New Year-Same Promises: "
God's Promise of Freedom"
Full-Throttle (Biker) Sunday
Services Flipped (Traditional Worship 9:30 a.m. & Praise 11:00 a.m.)
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
15 See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. 16If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. 17But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, 18I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, 20loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
Last week we considered the beginning of a compelling sermon located near the beginning of Jesus' ministry in Matthew's gospel: The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12, The Beatitudes). This week's scripture includes the last sermon of Moses, spoken as the wilderness wandering Hebrew people are poised to enter their new lives and new land; a land that Moses would glimpse, but never enter. In this splendid sermon ascribed to Moses, the author of Deuteronomy makes a clear call to renewal of faith in and loyalty to the one God who freed them from slavery in Egypt and promised new life and a new land.
These are the same folks who had turned up their noses at the provision of manna from God, longing instead for "the fleshpots of Egypt;" the same folks who fashioned a golden calf while Moses was occupied with listening for God's guidance.
This speech is about the choice of obedience to God's way. It's about love and communion with the only God who loves the people enough to free them. They are freed to choose, and the choice is clear: life and blessing, or death and curse. God desires for the community to be blessed. God hopes that Israel will make the right choice, for faithfulness that will bring blessings to the entire community, not just for some. It includes a land with plenty of love and provision for both the people of Israel and the sojourners and resident aliens. The right choice means life with enough for all to share.
It's the choice that a loving parent desires for the children...all the children.
The language of this stark choice is love language, and requires hearing and consideration from the heart. Both warning and promise are offered. God hopes for restoration. God opens the way for a future beyond exile, a future of thriving people extending the choice of covenant life with God and neighbors.
God chose to draw us into a covenant of love. Will we choose life?
We celebrate this and every Sunday the worship of the God who offers us this choice. We'll hear testimonies from brothers from the Christian Motorcycle Association in both 9:30 (Traditional) and 11:00 (Contemporary) worship services this Sunday, February 19th. Come to worship and serve as we welcome a host of neighbors to Full Throttle Sunday!
Blessings Abound!
LeeAnn
