Deuteronomy
30:15-20—Moses
gives his people a choice of life and death. We live by obeying the Law.
The two-letter words “if” has theological implications. Our life depends
on it. “If” people love and obey, they shall have life. “If” they are
rebellious, they will experience death. This implies that life and death are
results of meeting certain conditions. This means that we have free will to do
one or the other. We are not an automation, not a victim of circumstances. We
cannot blame God for our fate. Ultimately, our condition depends upon the type
of ‘if” we choose.
This two little word has deep
implications. Our weal or woe depends on it. If people love and obey, they
shall have life. If they are rebellious, they will experience death. This
implies that life and death are the results of meeting certain conditions. This
means that we have free will to do one or the other. WE are not an automation,
not a victim of circumstances. We cannot blame God for our fate. Ultimately,
our condition depends upon the type of “if’ we choose.
Life and death results from love or
hatred of God. If we choose to love God, we shall be blessed. God is not good
to us only when we first are obedient to His laws. I is like telling a child that
Santa will not bring him gifts unless he is a good little boy. The witness of
the New Testament is that God love us though we are sinners. His love causes us
to love him in return. Our eternal condition is not as easy or simple as
deciding for God. After all, we did not choose Him, but rather, He chose us.
Collects
for Epiphany 6: O
God graciously hear the prayers of Your people that we who justly suffer the
consequences of our sin may be mercifully delivered by Your goodness to the
glory of Your name for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. [2]
Collect
for Wednesday of the week of Epiphany 5: Keep us, O God, from presuming lightly to preach or lightly to
hear Thy word, so upholding us, and so opposing us, that in all our weakness
Thy strength may be made perfect. Through Jesus Christ our LORD. Amen [3]
– 08 February 2023
[2] Collect for Epiphany 6, Lutheran Service Book, © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis,
[3] Collect for Wednesday of the week of Epiphany 5, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. III © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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