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I. THE SERVICE OF GOD IS EVER A MATTER OF FREE PERSONAL CHOICE. Surely irresistible grace is contrary to Scripture and experience. It reduces religious service to mechanism, and destroys that free-willingness which gives worth to all religious actions. True, that exemption from compulsion is not release from obligation, and that it is man's bounden duty to serve God. To man God's grace should be indeed irresistible. Yet if man turn from God the responsibility is with man, and not God.

II. Further, the address of Moses demonstrated that the SERVICE OF GOD IS BASED UPON REASONABLE CONSIDERATIONS. If they turned from God, then upon them would fall His judgments, but if they cleaved unto Him they would know His blessing. Religion is "our reasonable service," and careful thought ever leads to the conclusion that to choose God is —

1. To obey conscience;

2. To follow wisdom.

(1) To choose God is to obey conscience. Woe be to man if the voice of conscience he disregards.

(2) To choose God is to follow wisdom. That is demonstrated in the history of Israel, and of every nation and individual. If self is served, server and served are ruined (Proverbs 3:17).

(3) To choose God is to express the gratitude we should feel towards Him.

III. Lastly, the address of Moses was MADE FORCEFUL BY HIS NOBLE PERSONAL EXAMPLE. No desire to please the people led him to qualify his words. The experience of a long life spent in the service of God had convinced him of the glory of God's service, and from that conviction he would not swerve.

(C. E. Walters.)

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KJV: See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

WEB: Behold, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil;