Today’s Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:19-20

19  ...I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, 20 loving the Lord your God... (NRSV)

As you may have noticed, my generation, dubbed “The Millennials” or those born between 1980 and 2000, are disengaged from the traditional church.  I recently read an article which stated that one-third of Americans under thirty now claim to have “no religion.”  Christian morality is no longer the norm and is in fact considered strange by those outside of religious circles.

Artwork by Vaness Jante

My generation has grown up in a time when companies compete to grab our attention through television or radio advertisements.  Today, many people pay more attention to social media messaging such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, or are awaiting text messages instead of listening for a message from God.  Rather than listening for God’s voice and holding fast to the Lord, energy is being focused on other pursuits.

These verses in Deuteronomy lay out the simple message that God wants us to hear: “Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.” (NIV) God went to great lengths in order to get our attention – God gave God’s only son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance during this Christmas season and always.  Amen.