Deuteronomy 30:15–20; 28:1–2, 20; 11:13; Luke 14:25–33
“I remember being asked by a friend one early morning how I was doing. My answer was a reluctant and half-hearted, ‘OK.’ This spawned a stern correction from my friend: ‘No… when I ask you how you are doing, regardless of how you feel, you say, “It is Good.” Out of your mouth comes life or death; choose life!’ They were referring to James 3:10: ‘Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.’ Which comes from you? Beware of lying against the truth.
We’re standing at a spiritual crossroads. Sides are at war, and it’s not just individuals but families, communities, and cultures. And the Word of God doesn’t leave us guessing about what’s at stake. Both texts before us today set before us a clear choice between two opposing ways of life.
In Deuteronomy, Israel must choose either a ‘short time in the land’ (v. 18) or a life of blessing and prosperity (v. 16). Covenant loyalty is demonstrated through love for God and obedient living (v. 16). It’s a communal commitment rooted in Israel’s national identity and inheritance as God’s people. In Deuteronomy 30:15–20, God lays out a choice—clear, urgent, and eternal: ‘I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse.’ This isn’t a metaphor; it’s a divine invitation, a covenantal call. And it’s still on the table today.”
1: The Clarity of the Choice
God doesn’t deal in ambiguity here. “I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse” (Deut. 30:19). He says, “Choose life, that you and your offspring may live” (v. 19). This is not a philosophical suggestion or a poetic metaphor; it’s a command with consequences. The choice demands action—you cannot remain passive. It demands a response.
And what does choosing life look like? Verse 20 tells us: “Loving the Lord your God, obeying His voice, and holding fast to Him.” It’s relational. It’s accomplished by doing, living rooted in love and loyalty—not just rule-following. Love-based loyalty is the foundation on which trust, commitment, and love are built. It creates an existential touchpoint, offering security, stability, faithfulness, and meaning, and shapes our destiny.
This choice isn’t just personal; it’s generational. The decisions we make today shape our lives and the lives of those around us. They configure the spiritual atmosphere of our homes, our churches, our communities, and our culture.
2: Blessing Flows from Obedience
Let’s turn to Deuteronomy 28:1–2. God says, “If you faithfully obey… all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you.” But in verse 20, He warns: “The Lord will send on you curses, confusion, and rebuke in everything you put your hand to.” As Samuel said, “to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams” (1 Sam. 15:22).
Obedience is linked to love for God. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (Jn. 14:15). Obedience brings blessing. Disobedience brings confusion, disorder, and spiritual death—consequences that ripple through families, communities, and cultures. And we don’t have to look far to see the effects of that confusion in our world today. The erosion of truth, the breakdown of moral clarity, the confusion in our culture—they’re symptoms of disobedience at the soul level.
This isn’t some ancient curse carved into a rotting tomb; it’s a living reality. When we drift from God’s ways, we erode the very foundations of our souls and our society.
3: Love and Loyalty
Deuteronomy 11:13 gives us the heartbeat of covenant faithfulness: “Love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” This is not about religious performance; it’s about wholehearted, everything-you’ve-got devotion. God’s appeal is grounded in His ḥeseḏ—His steadfast love. He doesn’t manipulate us into obedience. He invites us into a life-giving relationship, offers life-giving water. “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants” (Isaiah 44:3). And “whoever drinks the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14). We will be transformed: “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:38). You become a light, a reflection of “the light of the world” (Jn. 8:12), “shining before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify Him” (Matt. 5:16).
What is that water? How do we access it? We listen with the heart: “For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it” (Isaiah 55:10-11). Choosing life means choosing Him. It brings a gift of joy and blessing (Ps. 119:2). Choose Him daily the moment your eyes open. Choose Him intentionally, humbly, with gratitude. Choose Him sacrificially, prioritizing your relationship with Him above personal interests, desires, or comfort. You will need to make decisions and take actions that require giving up something, possibly something valuable, but ultimately you come closer to God and align with His will.
Sacrificial living involves putting God’s desires above your own, making deliberate decisions that reflect your commitment to God. It means following God’s guidance, even when it’s difficult or uncomfortable, and trusting God’s sovereignty and goodness, even in uncertain or challenging circumstances.
4: Jesus Raises the Stakes
This is where Jesus steps in. He shifts the focus from national covenant identity to a personal call to discipleship. Loyalty is not simply obedience to divine law but wholehearted devotion to Christ Himself. He doesn’t soften the call; He intensifies it. His words are uncompromising: the disciple “cannot” divide loyalty (vv. 25–26). He uses the word miseō—translated “hate”—to describe the radical reordering of affections required to follow Him. He’s not advocating literal hatred. He’s saying: “Your love for Me must be so supreme that every other relationship—even the most precious—comes second.”
The choice is stark and costly: either “treasure in heaven” (Matt. 19:21), the promised inheritance, or condemnation. True loyalty is seen in the grace-enabled surrender of every worldly security and identity for allegiance to Jesus. It is a “yes or no” response, for “anything more is of evil” (Matt. 5:37). This is a life-defining, unconditional surrender of the heart, all that you are (Deut. 4:29), to Him.
Jesus says, “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” True discipleship requires a radical, total commitment to Jesus, even at the cost of one’s life, status, or other relationships, demonstrating a willingness to endure suffering, sacrifice, and humiliation for Him. This involves self-denial, submission to Christ’s will, prioritizing Him above all else—above comfort, reputation, even family—and following in His footsteps, even when it leads to suffering or death. This is not comfortable Christianity; this is costly discipleship.
5. Conclusion: The Invitation Remains
So here we are. The challenge and the invitation remain: “Draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3). We thirst in the spiritual wasteland of this culture, and Jesus says, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink” (Jn. 7:37). Accept God’s grace and blessings; live in His ḥeseḏ.
Choose life—not just in theory, not just in ways you want, not just on Sundays. Choose it not by checking religious boxes, but according to His will in every decision, every relationship, every moment. It’s about total devotion, a daily surrender, a radical reorientation—a life’s work. And here’s the promise: “He is your life and length of days” (Deut. 30:20).
Choose life over death, blessing over curse, joy over despair. “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” So “draw water from the wells of salvation” (Is. 12:3).
Choose right. For ourselves. For our families. For the generations to come.
Practical applications
Living the call to “choose life” involves making intentional, practical choices in every area of our lives. This starts with our daily decision-making. We should begin each morning with a conscious prayer, surrendering our day to God. Before making major decisions about our careers, relationships, or finances, we need to ask ourselves if our choices align with loving and obeying God.
This commitment extends to our homes through family discipleship. Parents can model obedience and reverence for God in their daily lives, showing their children what it means to choose life through their speech, habits, and priorities. Families can also set aside time each week for Scripture reading and discussion, focusing on passages like Deuteronomy 30 and Luke 14, and asking, “What does choosing life look like for us this week?”
Our personal choice to follow God has implications for our cultural engagement. We can speak the truth with grace in our workplaces, schools, and online, not shying away from standing for what is right even when it’s unpopular. Supporting ministries and initiatives that promote life—spiritually, emotionally, and physically—is another practical way to live out this calling in our communities.
To ensure our choices are genuine, we must take a personal inventory. This week, we should take time to examine our affections and identify what competes with our love for God. Reflecting on Luke 14:25–33 can help us recognize what “cross” we might be avoiding or what comforts and relationships are keeping us from full obedience.
Choosing life also means building a lasting legacy. We can write a letter or journal entry for our children or future generations about why we’ve chosen to follow Christ, sharing our testimony as a legacy of faith. Mentoring someone younger in the faith is another powerful way to help them navigate the daily choice to walk in obedience.
Finally, we should cultivate spiritual habits to strengthen our resolve. Memorizing verses like Deuteronomy 30:19–20 can provide guidance during moments of temptation or confusion. We can also consider fasting from distractions that dull our spiritual sensitivity, like social media or entertainment, and use that time to seek God.
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Ballyduff Presbyterian Church, Ballyduff, ON
Part of the PCCWeb network of churches