Amos 8:11 - Word famine

“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord,
     “when I will send a famine through the land-
not a famine of food or a thirst for water,
     but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.

Right now we hear the word of the Lord and we choose to believe and obey or not. We have the luxury of choice. Imagine a time when there is no choice to be made because we have no opportunity to hear...a famine of hearing.

Lord, thank you for allowing us to hear the words of the Lord. Please help all those who hear to believe and obey. Amen.

1 Corinthians 10:23 - Choices

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive.

We have freedom in Christ, but just because we can, doesn't mean we ought to. Sometimes we restrict ourselves from various foods or activities based on reasons of health, conscious or religion. As long as our decision to do or not do something seeks the good of others and to glorify God, we can feel comfortable with our choices.

Lord, thank you for the freedom you give us. Please help us to make choices which seek the good of others and glorify you. Amen

Psalm 81:11-12 - Does God give up on us?

“But my people would not listen to me;
     Israel would not submit to me.
So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
     to follow their own devices.

God gives us free will. He lets us choose if we are going to follow him or not. In the form of friends, family members and kind strangers, he comes to us, sharing the good news of Christ sacrifice for our sins. As with the Israelites in this Psalm, his pursuit of us will cease and he will allow us to make our choice and do what we want. The door remains open, but we have to walk through it.

Lord, thank you for giving us chance after chance to come to you. Please help us to seek a relationship with you. Amen.

Joshua 24:15

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

This is such a famous verse. we usually hear a shorter version but here is the whole verse. God has always given his people a choice. He has never forced anyone to love him. God loves all of us, everyone, unsaved and saved. He gives us all the same good gifts here on the earth. If we choose to love him and develop a relationship with him, we get to enjoy that while we are here on earth, plus after death we will continue to be with him

Lord, thank you for the opportunity to choose. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to have a relationship with you right now and eternally. Lord, please help us to make the right choice. Amen.