^{Deuteronomy 30:15-20}

 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.  If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them,I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess.  I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

Morality is the glue that allows humanity to function in freedom, to flourish, and find fulfillment in life. But morals built on human preferences rather than Godly character destroys lives and causes destruction between people and tribes and nations.

Morality is built upon values. When values become distorted and are rearranged in priority for a few elitists, harm falls upon the majority of remaining people. Healthy values are God-given and are objective for all people to adhere too.

The most life changing values ever expressed are found in the Bible. Initially the Old Testament reveals the Ten Commandments. These 10 values prioritize the boundaries and conditions of how people can best live independently and collectively for the sake of all. When one of these values are broken, people suffer. The sufferer may be an individual, a couple, a group, or a large community, but someone is always hurt when one of these values are ignored.

In the New Testament, Jesus expanded on these Ten with an emphasis on the attitude and spirit rather than just on the outer behavior.    

In the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses wrote how keeping these Ten along with the policies and principles built from these Ten, one could successfully live within a culture and prosper as a family, tribe, and nation. Though this promise was to Israel when they were about to enter the promise land after 400 years of slavery, the same words apply today. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Whether you are a Gentile or Jew from birth, Jesus Christ has united us into one race – the human-to-become-eternal race.   

Let’s learn from the historical Biblical records of yesterday rather than repeat the same mistakes over and over again. Ignorance isn’t bliss when reality hits you in the face. The Biblical nation of Israel has a long history of demonstrating what policies work and don’t work to have a successful life. Maybe you and I can learn some of them to integrate into our lives to make this journey more productive and significant than it is today.

When you make God the central foundation of your life and follow HIS decrees, and your neighbor does likewise, you and they are going to enjoy life the way HE originally intended humanity to experience. God’s way allows each person to experience personal and collective freedom by mutually respecting each other’s boundaries. By building a foundation on the Triune God, and trusting HIS plan for humanity, you and I are now given the privilege to experience HIS same divine grace today.

So, why not put HIM to the test? Or what are you afraid to discover about yourself, others, or HIM?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

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