Mio Cartella

We have a Choice

        When God created us, He endowed us with the capacity to choose and our choices have consequences—good or bad. For that reason, we sometimes agonize over a decision because we know it can have a far-reaching outcome. 

       Moses was aware that the choice his people made would be very consequential. He was about to pass off the scene; his people were about to enter the Promised Land. If they chose to obey the Lord with all their hearts and stay away from idolatry, God would bless them abundantly. If they made the wrong choice, life for them could be disastrous. He might have recalled how Adam and Eve chose selfishly to reject God’s authority, to satisfy self, and in so doing, they plunged the entire human race into sin and destruction. 

         On the other hand, Jesus Christ chose to obey His Father unselfishly and as a result, He became the Author of eternal salvation. Moses’ love for his people led him to plead with them to honor and obey the Lord. Jesus made a similar plea to His disciples before He went to the cross. He said to His disciples—and to us—”Remain in union with me and I will remain in you; for a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me. My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father.” 

         We can choose to obey the Lord and be fruitful; or we can choose to live selfishly and be unfruitful. Our choice makes the difference.

Reading from Deuteronomy 11:26-32

To God, be teachable….

           Four-year-olds differ from 17-year-olds in many ways, but one significant way is this: 4-year-olds believe almost anything you tell them, while 17-year-olds believe very little of what you tell them. As teens grow into adulthood, they tend to question and often rebel against truths they learned as youngsters.

King David learned the hard way that rebelling against God’s moral code is a bad idea. He knew it was wrong to commit adultery with Bathsheba and order her husband killed in battle, but he did it anyway. As a result, he suffered. Not only did the child die that he fathered with Bathsheba, he also suffered the pain of an uneasy conscience. He was miserable with guilt day after day until he confessed his sin to God. God forgave him but the scars remained. His sons brought him great sorrow. After his horrific sin,

         King David left us some wise advice in Psalm 32. He counsels us to confess our sin and rebellion before God judges us. If we do, he says we can experience God’s protection. God will become our hiding place from trouble. If we confess, we can know the joy of God saying, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.  

         Do not be like a senseless horse or mule—stubborn—that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.” Teachable people enjoy God’s guidance and live a victorious, satisfying life.

Reading Psalms 32:6-11

They are Listening And Learning ….

A father swore at his 4-year-old child. A bystander reminded him that the child would one day swear too. The father replied, “I expect him to do as I say, not as I do.” Sadly, many people think that works, but it never does. That is why the Bible urges us to keep in mind that people copy our behavior. The Apostle Paul knew that, and he used himself as an example to teach new believers how they should behave. Writing to the Thessalonians, chapter 2, he said, “Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know. And God is our witness that we were not just pretending to be your friends so you would give us money. As for praise, we have never asked for it from you or anyone else. We loved you so much that we gave you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too. Night and day, we toiled to earn our living; we did not want be a burden to anyone there as we preached God’s Good News among you. You yourselves are our witnesses—and so is God that we were pure, honest, and faultless toward all of you believers. We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider you worthy. He called you into his kingdom to share his glory.” God wants us to be positive models for other people. He especially wants us to set good examples for children and youth.

READING from 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

A Little Bible Readin’ & Devotion for the mornin’

Thomas Jefferson once said about religious freedom in America, “Among our blessings is the liberty to worship our Creator in the way we think most agreeable to His will.” Our constitution guarantees freedom of religion. But religious freedom does not mean we endorse every religion in our country. The Bible is very emphatic in defending the uniqueness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote to correct false teaching that had penetrated the church at Galatia. In chapter 1, he wrote this: “You are being fooled by those who twist and change the truth concerning Christ. Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including myself, who preaches any other message than the one we told you about. Even if an angel comes from heaven and preaches any other message, let him be forever cursed.” Paul said, “Obviously, I’m not trying to be a people pleaser! No, I am trying to please God. If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ’s servant.” Christians all over the world respect a person’s right to believe as he or she chooses. At the same time, we defend our right to believe and proclaim the uniqueness of Jesus Christ. We are convinced that He is God’s Son and our Lord and Savior. He commissioned His followers to share this message with people everywhere.

Reading from Galations 1:1-10

Edmund Clowney said this about wisdom: “You cannot access wisdom by the megabyte. Wisdom is concerned with how we relate to people, to the world, and to God.” Solomon wanted his son to succeed in life, so in Proverbs 3, he wrote: “Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. Wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold. Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. She offers you long life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left. She will guide you down delightful paths; all her ways are satisfying. Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly. By wisdom, the Lord founded the earth; by understanding, he created the heavens. My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them, for they will refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace. They keep you safe on your way, and your feet will not stumble. You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly. You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.” In a day when many voices compete for our attention, the wise people take heed to God’s wisdom, which is revealed in the Bible.

Reading Proverbs 3:13-27