Choose Life: The Power of Intentional Faith

As we gather at the start of a new season, we’re reminded that God’s invitation to us is not passive but active—He calls us to step up, to step in, and to choose life. This is not just a one-time decision, but a daily, ongoing act of devotion. Drawing from Deuteronomy 30, we see Moses standing before the Israelites, urging them to choose between life and death, blessing and curse. The stakes are high, not just for them, but for generations to come. The same choice is set before us today: will we drift along with the current, or will we intentionally choose the life God offers?

Drifting is easy, but it never leads us to the life God intends. Like floating down a river without direction, we can find ourselves carried by the currents of culture, comfort, or circumstance. But God’s way is different. He gives us agency and responsibility, inviting us to own our choices and their consequences. Obedience is not about legalistic rule-following, but about aligning our lives with God’s design, walking into His promises, and experiencing true blessing.

Choosing life is not a one-and-done event. It’s a daily act of devotion—a long obedience in the same direction. Each day, we’re called to choose again, to root ourselves in God’s Word, to meditate on His truth, and to delight in His presence. This daily faithfulness keeps us rooted, nourished, and fruitful, like a tree planted by streams of water. The alternative is drift, which always leads to distance, withering, and ultimately destruction.

Our choices shape our destination. Every yes carries a thousand no’s, and every decision, big or small, sets the trajectory of our lives and the legacy we leave. Jesus Himself calls us to count the cost, to renounce all that competes for our devotion, and to follow Him wholeheartedly. The life we’re invited into is not just about what we gain, but about who we know—Jesus Himself, who is our life and our length of days.

This call is generational. The choices we make ripple out to our children, our families, and our community. Today, we’re invited to draw a line in the sand—not just for ourselves, but for those who come after us. Whether it’s the step of baptism or another act of obedience, the invitation is clear: don’t drift, don’t delay. Choose life. Choose Jesus—today and every day.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Drifting Never Leads to Life Drifting through life—whether by comfort, culture, or indecision—never brings us into the fullness God intends. True life requires intentionality; we must resist the temptation to simply go with the flow and instead make conscious choices that align with God’s purposes. Drifting always leads to distance, not closeness, whether in our relationship with God or with others. [06:01]
• 2. Every Choice Carries Consequence and Agency God grants us real agency and responsibility; our choices matter deeply and have real, sometimes generational, consequences. While not everything in life is the result of our decisions, we are invited to own our future by choosing obedience and faithfulness. This ownership is both a gift and a weight, reminding us that passivity is itself a choice with its own outcomes. [10:22]
• 3. Choosing Life is a Daily Devotion, Not a One-Time Event The call to “choose life” is not a single moment but a daily, ongoing act of devotion. Each day, we must choose again to root ourselves in God’s Word, to delight in His presence, and to walk in His ways. This long obedience in the same direction is what keeps us nourished, fruitful, and resilient, even when we stumble or face hardship. [13:23]
• 4. Our Choices Shape Our Destination and Legacy Small decisions, made consistently, set the trajectory of our lives and the legacy we leave for others. Every yes is a thousand no’s, and every act of obedience or disobedience shapes not only our own future but also the lives of those who follow us. Counting the cost and choosing intentionally is essential, for indecision is itself a decision with lasting impact. [26:53]
• 5. Jesus is Not Just the Giver of Life—He is Life The ultimate definition of life is not found in what we possess or achieve, but in who we know. Jesus Himself is our life, our length of days, and our true destination. To choose life is to choose Him—not as an add-on, but as the very center and source of our existence, both now and forever. [30:12]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:30] - Called Out, Called Up: The Invitation
• [06:01] - You Can’t Drift Into Life
• [07:04] - The Power and Consequence of Choice
• [08:30] - Choose Your Own Adventure: Agency and Consequence
• [10:22] - Ownership and Responsibility in Our Choices
• [12:02] - The Ripple Effect: Choices and Generations
• [12:38] - Forgiveness and the Process of Choosing
• [13:23] - Daily Devotion: Choosing Again and Again
• [14:50] - Psalm 1: The Blessing of Delighting in God
• [16:51] - Rootedness vs. Withering: The Fruit of Consistency
• [20:09] - Drifting Apart or Drawing Near
• [22:14] - Counting the Cost: Jesus’ Call to Discipleship
• [26:53] - Small Choices, Big Destinations
• [30:12] - Defining Life: Jesus as Our Life
• [34:21] - Generational Impact: Choices and Legacy
• [36:24] - Baptism: Drawing the Line in the Sand

Bible Reading

Deuteronomy 30:15-20 (ESV) — “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

Psalm 1:1-3 (ESV) — “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”

Luke 14:27-33 (ESV) — “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ ... So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”

Observation Questions

1. In Deuteronomy 30, what two options does Moses set before the Israelites, and what are the consequences of each?
2. According to Psalm 1, what is the difference between the person who delights in God’s law and the one who follows the way of sinners?
3. In Luke 14, what does Jesus say about the cost of following Him, and what examples does He use to illustrate this?
4. The sermon described “drifting” as a way of living. What are some examples given of what drifting looks like in our lives? [[06:01]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Moses emphasizes that choosing life is not just a one-time decision, but something that affects future generations? [[34:21]]
2. The sermon says, “You cannot drift your way into life. You must choose it.” What does this mean in practical terms for someone’s faith journey? [[06:01]]
3. How does the idea of “counting the cost” in following Jesus challenge the way we make decisions about our priorities and commitments? [[22:14]]
4. The sermon mentions that “Jesus is not just the giver of life—He is life.” How does this change the way we think about what it means to “choose life”? [[30:12]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon warns that drifting is easy but never leads to the life God intends. Where in your life do you see yourself drifting—maybe in your faith, relationships, or habits? What is one step you could take this week to be more intentional? [[06:01]]
2. Every choice carries consequences, and even indecision is a choice. Can you think of a recent decision (or indecision) that has shaped your direction or affected someone else? How might you approach similar choices differently in the future? [[29:21]]
3. The call to “choose life” is described as a daily act of devotion. What would it look like for you to root yourself in God’s Word and delight in His presence each day? Is there a specific practice you want to start or return to? [[13:23]]
4. The sermon talks about the ripple effect of our choices on our children, family, and community. Who in your life is affected by your choices, and what kind of legacy do you want to leave? [[34:21]]
5. Jesus calls us to count the cost and follow Him wholeheartedly. Is there something in your life that competes for your devotion to Jesus? What would it look like to “renounce” it or put Jesus at the center? [[22:14]]
6. The message says, “Don’t drift, don’t delay. Choose life. Choose Jesus—today and every day.” Is there a specific area where you need to draw a line in the sand and make a clear choice for Jesus? What’s holding you back? [[36:24]]
7. For those considering baptism or another step of obedience, what fears or hesitations do you have? How can the group support you in making and living out that choice? [[36:24]]