{"id":1200,"date":"2020-02-16T15:33:24","date_gmt":"2020-02-16T23:33:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=1200"},"modified":"2020-02-16T15:34:24","modified_gmt":"2020-02-16T23:34:24","slug":"choose-life-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/16\/choose-life-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Choose Life!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"color:black;font: 10pt arial;\"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:WordDocument>   <w:View>Normal<\/w:View>   <w:Zoom>0<\/w:Zoom>   <w:TrackMoves\/>   <w:TrackFormatting\/>   <w:PunctuationKerning\/>   <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas\/>   <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false<\/w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>   <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false<\/w:IgnoreMixedContent>   <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false<\/w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>   <w:DoNotPromoteQF\/>   <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US<\/w:LidThemeOther>   <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE<\/w:LidThemeAsian>   <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE<\/w:LidThemeComplexScript>   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\tmso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} <\/style>\n\n <![endif]--><\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;color:#212121\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-1200-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Epiphany-6-02-16-20.mp3?_=1\" \/><source type=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/FILELINK?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Epiphany-6-02-16-20.mp3\">http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Epiphany-6-02-16-20.mp3<\/a><\/audio>&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Sixth Sunday after Epiphany<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">February 16, 2020<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Deuteronomy 30:15-20<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Choose Life!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;tab-stops:13.5pt .5in 2.5in 238.5pt 337.5pt\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For I command you today to love the L<\/span>ORD<span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\"> your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the L<\/span>ORD<span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\"> your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the L<\/span>ORD<span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\"> your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For the L<\/span>ORD <span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(NIV1984)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Have you ever noticed how many choices we face in our day-to-day lives?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Walk down just about any aisle in the grocery store.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Do you find just one kind of bottled water or just one kind of chips or just one kind of apples?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Or do you find a multitude of choices?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The other day Brenda asked me to pick up a pack of hotdogs for the boys.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I asked her to write down exactly what she wanted me to bring home.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Why?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because there is a whole sea of hotdogs to choose from and I didn\u2019t want to bring home something the boys won\u2019t eat!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Walk through a used car dealership and count how many different makes and models and colors are there.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And I don\u2019t even want to think about walking through the clothing department looking for a new Easter outfit for my wife or my daughters or my granddaughter to wear.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">How do we choose?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How do we know which choice is best?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>More often than not it comes down to personal preferences, doesn\u2019t it?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Brenda drives a Ford because she <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">likes <\/b>Fords.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I drive a Buick because I <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">like <\/b>Buicks.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But my favorite car is my baby-blue 1967 Camaro.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Why?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because I <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">like <\/b>it!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">If we were to take a moment to look at our life it would be very clear and very easy for us to see that we make a multitude of choices each and every day.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Some of our choices have a relatively minor impact on our life and some of our choices have a major long-lasting impact on our life.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We understand that truth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We accept that truth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We experience that truth over and over again.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">With that backdrop in mind I have chosen to use two words taken directly from our text to serve as our sermon theme for today.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Those two words are found in verse 19:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">Choose Life! <\/i><\/b><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;<\/span>Our goal today is two-fold.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First of all let\u2019s see what those words meant for God\u2019s Old Testament Children.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then let\u2019s see what those words mean for us, God\u2019s New Testament children.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Choose life!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As historic Lutheran Christians those two words might cause us to squirm a little in our seats.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Why?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because most of us have learned Martin Luther\u2019s explanation of the Third Article of the Apostles\u2019 Creed:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u201cI believe that I cannot by my own thinking or choosing believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In light of Luther\u2019s explanation why would I choose to use our sermon theme for today?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Here\u2019s an even better question:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In light of these inspired words of our God, why do we believe, teach and confess Luther\u2019s explanation of the Third Article of the Apostles\u2019 Creed?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">This is an excellent example of why I teach that when it comes to understanding Scripture there are only three things to remember:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Context!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Context!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Context!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In his explanation to the Third Article Martin Luther is talking about <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">conversion<\/b>\u2014 <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">how <\/b>someone who is born spiritual blind, spiritually dead and a spiritual enemy of God <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">becomes <\/b>a Christian.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Here in our text Moses is not talking about <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">conversion<\/b>, but rather Moses is talking about <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">remaining<\/b> in the covenant relationship that the Lord God Almighty had established with His Chosen People.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The generation of Israelites who had come out of Egypt, the generation of Israelites who had stood and trembled at the foot of Mt. Sinai when the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob first spelled out the requirements of the covenant that He was establishing with them, the generation of Israelites who refused to enter into the Promised Land because they did not trust the Lord to fulfill His promises to them\u2014 their bodies were buried in the desert after forty years of wandering in the wilderness.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Now it was time for the Lord to reaffirm His covenant with their children.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">This critically important aspect of understanding our text is brought out in the verses preceding our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In verses 11-14 of Deuteronomy chapter 30 the Lord reminds His children that remaining faithful to Him by remaining faithful to His covenant is <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cnot too difficult for you or beyond your reach\u201d<\/i> (verse 11).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Why?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because the Lord God had already worked in their hearts with His powerful Word!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Lord says in verse 14, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cNo, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so that you may obey it.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The words of our text, my friends, are <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">not <\/b>addressed to unbelievers.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They are <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">not <\/b>addressed to the Canaanites or the Jebusites or the Hittites or any of the other \u201cites\u201d living in the Promised Land!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>These words are addressed to God\u2019s Chosen People.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They are addressed to believers!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">It is in that context that the Lord God places before His children two choices.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at the opening portion of our Text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The God of heaven says to His children through His servant Moses, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cSee, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For I command you today to love the L<\/i><\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the L<\/span><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The two choices that the Lord gave to His beloved children are clear, they are concise and they bring with them powerful consequences.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>God\u2019s children, children who have already seen both the grace and the justice of God\u2014 the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, the manna and the quail, the poisonous snakes\u2014 God\u2019s children could choose to remain faithful to their Lord by remaining faithful to His covenant, or they could choose to turn away from the Lord by turning away from His covenant.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">How were God\u2019s people to reveal which choice they were making?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The choice they had made in their heart would be evident in the actions of their life.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Choosing to remain faithful to the covenant that the Lord had graciously established with them would be evident in their love for the Lord their God; it would be evident in their <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cwalking\u201d<\/i> in His ways; it would be evident in their obedience to the Lord\u2019s <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201ccommands, decrees and laws.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Choosing to remain faithful to the Lord by remaining faithful to the covenant He had graciously established with them was synonymous with choosing life!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Moses answers that question when he says to God\u2019s people, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cNow choose life so that you and your children may live and that you may love the L<\/i><\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For the L<\/span><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> is your life.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Choosing <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">not <\/b>to remain faithful to the Lord by choosing <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">not <\/b>to remain faithful to the covenant which the Lord had graciously established with them would also be evident both in their heart and in their life.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Their hearts would <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cturn away\u201d<\/i> from the Lord and they would bow down to and worship idols.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Their lives would be marred by disobedience to the Lord\u2019s <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201ccommands, decrees and laws.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Choosing to be unfaithful to the Lord by being unfaithful to His covenant was synonymous with <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cdeath and destruction\u201d<\/i>\u2014 not just in this life, but also in eternity!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">As we look back over the history of God\u2019s Old Testament children we can see that the Lord was serious when He said to them, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cSee, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When God\u2019s people were faithful to him and to the covenant He had established with them the Lord blessed them in ways they could have never imagined!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But, when God\u2019s people were unfaithful to Him by being unfaithful to His covenant the Lord took away His blessings and poured out His justice upon them.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">\u201cSee, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Does the Lord God Almighty place that very same choice before us, my friends?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Yes He does!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The God of heaven graciously entered into a covenant relationship with us when He adopted us to be His own dearly beloved child through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The God of heaven reminds us of this covenant relationship every time we receive His Holy Supper and hear Him say, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cThis cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you\u201d<\/i> (Luke 22:20).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Purely by His power and purely by His grace we are in this glorious covenant relationship with the one and only true God\u2014 not by our own thinking or choosing but because God the Holy Spirit has called us by the Gospel and enlightened us with His gifts.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>At the same time we need to remember:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>while we cannot choose to <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">become <\/b>a Christian, we can choose to reject or neglect the gift of saving faith that God the Holy Spirit has created in our heart.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>While we cannot choose to accept Christ and what He had done <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">for <\/b>us (Pointing to the cross), we can choose to turn our back on our Brother and walk away from our only Savior from sin.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">\u201cSee, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How do we reveal which choice we are making?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Like God\u2019s Old Testament children, the choice we make in our heart will be evident in the actions of our life.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Choosing to remain faithful to our Lord and to the covenant He lived and died and rose again to establish with us will be evident in our love for the Lord.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Here each and every one of us needs to examine our heart and see who or what is most important to us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If money or material possessions are more important to us than our Lord, if leisure or pleasure is more important to us than our Savior then we need to seriously reconsider the choices we are making in our life!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Choosing to remain faithful to our Lord and to the covenant He lived and died and rose again to establish with us will be evident in the way that we strive to <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cwalk in his ways.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I\u2019m not exactly sure how to determine this, but how do other people evaluate our life?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When they watch how we live (and people do watch), when they listen to how we talk (and people to listen) are they able to see and to hear that we are \u201cdifferent\u201d?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Are they able to see and to hear that we are \u201cin the world but not of the world\u201d?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See John 15:19; 17:13-17)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If the people around us are not able to see and to hear that we are Christians, if the people around us are not able to see and to hear that we belong to Him (Pointing to the cross) then we need to seriously reconsider the choices we are making in our life!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Choosing to remain faithful to the Lord and to the covenant He lived and died and rose again to establish with us will be evident in the way that we strive to <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201ckeep his commands, decrees and laws\u201d<\/i>\u2014 not because we are trying to earn His grace, His mercy or His forgiveness but simply we want to show our love and our thankfulness to Jesus for all that He has done <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">for <\/b>us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Here each and every single one of us needs to examine our life in the light of God\u2019s holy inspired Word.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Do we treat God\u2019s Ten Commands like they are merely suggestions?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If so then we need to seriously reconsider the choices we are making in our life.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at portions of Scripture such as our Epistle Lesson for today.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(1 Corinthians 2:6-13)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>God\u2019s Word is the only source of pure and lasting <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cwisdom.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If we put what we think or what other people tell us over and above what God tells us in His Word then we need to seriously reconsider the choices we are making in live.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at portions of Scripture such as our Gospel Lesson for today.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(Matthew 5:21-37)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If we are ignoring or dismissing or downplaying what God commands us in His Word we need to seriously reconsider the choices we are making in our life.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">\u201cNow choose life so that you and your children may live and that you may love the L<\/span><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For the L<\/span><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> is your life.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We make many many choices in our lives, my friends.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Some of those choices have a relatively minor impact on our life and some of those choices have a major long-lasting impact on our life.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As Christians, as people who have been brought into a covenant relationship with the one true God, as sinners who have been redeemed with <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cthe precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect\u201d<\/i> (1 Peter 1:19), as people who have been adopted as God\u2019s dearly beloved adopted children may God grant that we will always strive to follow His imperative:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">Choose Life!<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">To God be the glory!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Amen<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"postie-attachments\">Download sermon audio ::  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Epiphany-6-02-16-20.mp3\">Epiphany-6-02-16-20.MP3<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; The Sixth Sunday after Epiphany February 16, 2020 Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Choose Life! &nbsp; &nbsp; See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.&nbsp; For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1200","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1200","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1200"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1200\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1200"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1200"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1200"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}