Choose Life

Isn't it an amazing concept that God chooses us? The God who created all things chose me to be His child! The flip side of this is that the God who created all things has given us free will. This used to be such a conundrum to me why God would allow weak, fallible humans the opportunity of choice. Why did He make it an option to choose Him?
This becomes less puzzling as I get to know Him better.
God is love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." Now try reading it with God instead of love...
Always - all the time, continuously, forever!
I love my husband very much. Ten years ago when we met my thinking was still pretty unhealthy. I thought that I could force relationship with him. Thank God he had a little more wisdom than I and backed away for a time.
I am not saying that this was not a painful time but I shudder to think of the rotten fruit that would have been produced had he given in to my demands. We married 5 years ago on the solid rock of Christ and forgiveness. We chose each other in love and the fruit is intimacy and a deepening desire to know more of the other everyday.
In the same way, God does not want to force Himself on us or control our choices. His heart is for us and He desires for us to choose Him. He knows though that the intimacy comes from our desire for Him. It is our deliberate act of choice as we recognize our need for Him that creates relationship.
Deuteronomy 31:19,20a "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice and hold fast to Him. "
Are your choices creating life or death for you?
I want to dedicate this blog entry to my sister Kerri. 2 years ago today she chose life and has been clean and sober. She knows that without God she would not be where she is now and possibly not even alive. Bless you girl, I am proud of you and amazed at the miracles of our God! Keep on keeping on.