In Deuteronomy 30:19 Moses, God’s Prophet, gave the Israelites a choice.  Moses said, “This day I call the heavens as witnesses against you, that I have set before you, life and death, blessings and curses.  Now Choose Life, so that you and your children may live.”  God had made a covenant with the Israelites and He forewarned them that if they were obedient to His laws, they would be blessed.  However, if they chose to be disobedient, they would be cursed.  Today God is calling all peoples on the earth to Choose Life. 

God desires for us to Choose Life each day and in every situation that we encounter in our lives.  No one can take away our power to choose.  When we choose life, we are also making a decision that affects our children, grandchildren, and the generations of our descendants.  If you have been born again, you have made the decision to Choose Life for yourself and your descendants.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  Just one family member receiving Jesus as his or her Lord and Savior, can change the generations that follow.  Acts 16:31 says, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved, you and your household,” (NIV). 

How can we Choose Life each day?  We can Choose Life by: 

1. Casting down all vain imaginations and thoughts that are contrary to God’s Word and taking them captive to make them obedient to Christ.  Proverbs 23:7 says, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he,” (NIV).  We can ask God to create in us a pure heart and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within us, as King David did. 
2. Speaking life and not death.  The Bible says death and life are in the power of the tongue.  Each time we choose to speak truth, to not gossip, to not curse or respond in anger, we Choose Life.  Even if we miss the mark, God sees our hearts as we repent and ask Him for help. 
3. Resisting temptation and being obedient.  James 1:13-15 says, “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.”  For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.  Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death,” (NIV).  But even if we miss the mark, we can still Choose Life by acknowledging our sins and asking God for forgiveness.  1 John 1:9 says, “If we (freely) admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins (dismiss our lawlessness) and (continuously) cleanse us from all unrighteousness (everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action), (AMPC). 
4. Reading, meditating on, and teaching God’s Word to our children and grandchildren.  Jesus said, “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, Matthew 4:4, (NIV).  Joshua 1:8 says, “This Book of the Law shall NOT depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it.  For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success,” (AMPC).   In Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Moses encouraged the Israelites to teach their children God’s Word.  His Words still apply to us today.  He said, “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be (written) on your hearts and minds. You shall teach them diligently to your children (impressing God’s precepts on their minds and penetrating their hearts with His truths) and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up,” (AMP).  Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it,” (ESV). 
5. By Praying and Communing with God.  Matthew 6:7-8 says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened,” (NIV).  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  1 Peter 4:7 says, “The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray, (NIV). 
6. By not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together.  Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages us to hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching, (NIV). 

Let us Choose Life each day in our thoughts and in our actions, as faith without works is dead.  Be a voice for the gospel.  Wear Scriptures! 

Christmas is celebrated in many countries around the world.  It is a season of excitement, joy, spending time with family and friends and exchanging gifts.  God gave the best gift ever; Jesus Christ, His Son.  John 3:16-17 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him,” (NIV). 

Jesus came into the earth as a newborn baby.  God placed him in Mary’s womb.  He was conceived of God, not of man.  Therefore, he was not contaminated with sin.  After Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, he returned to heaven.  However, he promised in his Word, he would return.  In John 14:1-3, Jesus admonished his disciples.   He said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am going,” (NIV). 

Jesus will not return to earth as a baby in his second coming.  He will return as the KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS.  The beloved disciple John was given a vision of Jesus’ return. In Revelation 19:11-16, John said, “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.  With justice he judges and makes war.  His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns.  He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.  He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.  The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.   Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations.  He will rule them with an iron scepter.  He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.  On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” 

In Revelation 22:11-13, Jesus said, “Behold, I am coming soon!  My reward is with me, and I give to everyone according to what he has done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.  Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city,” (NIV). 

What are we, as the body of Christ and his bride, to do as we wait for his return?  1 Peter 3:15-16 says, “But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy (and acknowledge Him) as Lord.  Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you; but do it courteously and respectfully.  (And see to it that) your conscience is entirely clear (unimpaired), so that, when you are falsely accused as evildoers, those who threaten you abusively and revile your right behavior in Christ may come to be ashamed (of slandering your good lives),” (AMPC).  1 Peter 4:7 says, “But the end and culmination of all things has now come near; keep sound minded and self-restrained and alert therefore for (the practice of) prayer,” (AMPC). 

We should also be fulfilling the Great Commission.  Revelation 22:17 says, “The (Holy) Spirit and the bride (the church, the true Christians) say, “Come!  And let him who hears say, Come!  Whoever is thirsty (who is painfully conscious of his need of those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, and strengthened); and whoever (earnestly) desires to do it, let him come; take, appropriate, and drink the water of Life without cost,” (AMPC). 

Merry Christmas!  Prepare the way of the LORD.  Be a voice for the gospel.  Wear Scriptures. 

Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,” (NIV).   Endurance means the ability or strength to continue or last, especially despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions.  Perseverance means to persist or to continue steadfastly in an undertaking despite the difficulties, hardships and battles that one faces.  The Apostle Paul is encouraging us as believers, to continue to seek first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness and to stay in the faith despite the difficulties, hardships and battles that we face.  We are to keep our eyes on Jesus, who began the race and finished his course here upon the earth, despite the great opposition and fierce battles he faced, up to the point of his death on the cross.   

 Hebrews 12:2-3 says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart,” (NIV).   It takes perseverance and endurance to continue to serve God faithfully despite the unexpected disappointments, the battles, the losses, and the delays of our dreams and promises.  

 God promises to strengthen us and give us grace to run our race with perseverance.  Isaiah 40:27-31 says, “Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, my Way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God?  Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint,” (NIV).    

Our ultimate goal is to become like Christ.  Romans 8:28-29 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters,” (NIV).  Therefore, let us run the race set before us with perseverance and endurance, keeping our eyes on Jesus, and encourage others to run alongside us.  Be a voice for the gospel.  Wear Scriptures! 

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If you have received Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior and you have been born again or born of the Spirit, you have been redeemed.  Redeem means to gain or regain possession of something in exchange for payment.  In our case, Jesus Christ has redeemed or repurchased us from the power of sin and spiritual death or separation from God.  Before we were redeemed, we were enemies of God and under the power of sin, the devil and spiritual death.  Romans 5:10 says, “for if while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life,” (NIV). 

Galatians 3:13 says, “Christ purchased our freedom (redeeming us) from the curse (doom) of the Law (and its condemnation) by (Himself) becoming a curse for us, for it is written (in the Scriptures), cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified),” (AMPC).  The Law or the Ten Commandments were against us.  We were guilty of sin.  Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”   

However, Jesus the God man, never sinned.  While He lived on earth, he never broke any of the Ten Commandments.  Jesus fulfilled the Law.  In Matthew 5:17, Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to do away with or undo the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to do away with or undo but to complete and fulfill them.”  Romans 10:4 says, “For the Christ is the end of the Law.  And because of him, God has transferred his perfect righteousness to all who believe,” (TPT).  Colossians 2:13-14 says, “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ.  He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross,” (NIV).  

We have been redeemed or repurchased.   We have been bought back and reconciled to God with the precious blood of Jesus.  We are no longer under the law of sin and death, but we are under the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. Let us remember who we are in Christ Jesus.  We have been redeemed.  Let us tell others how they can be redeemed too.  Be a voice for the gospel.  Wear Scriptures! 

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