Theme: SELF APPRAISAL
Text: ‘Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if you will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.’ – Deuteronomy 11: 26.
Comment: The LORD God made man in His image after His likeness, to have dominion over all that He had created on earth (Genesis 1: 26-28). Man, himself is to worship God, and to show forth His praise. (Isaiah 43: 21) But Satan interfered and stole for himself worship that is due to God Almighty. He tells ‘the big lie’ to corrupt the worship of God Almighty – pretending to be God Almighty, and making people believe that they serve God through other gods and evil mediums. (1 Corinthians 8: 5,6; 2 Thessalonians 2: 3,4) Thus, every human being now has to choose between good and evil. Each person must appraise his actions to know where he stands as there is no middle ground. Joshua the prophet told the Jews, ‘Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served . . . And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; . . .: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD’ (Joshua 24: 14,15). Whatever choice anyone makes there is reward, life for obedience, death for disobedience. – Deuteronomy 30:15-20; 1 Peter 3: 10-12.
Amos, the servant of God counsels us thus: ‘Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you …’ – Amos 5: 14. Compare Psalm 34: 8.