As I write this, it is Sunday afternoon and I am preparing for the Bible study at church tonight.

We will have a video presentation on Moses. The opening text comes from Deuteronomy 7:7-8, reminding the people why they have been “chosen.”

And just following this are verses 12-14, speaking of the blessings that come from obeying the Lord God — blessings of fruitfulness, of human and land varieties.

When I read this with 1 John in mind (as well as the Gospel According to John), I find things to ponder for all the world, but particularly all who read these words.

The author of Deuteronomy reminds the people who believe themselves to be the special, chosen people, that it is not by any act or character or aspect of any particular human being that God has chosen us, them or anybody.

God’s choice is strictly driven by His desires and love. And as it is with Moses, God selects as a leader one of the created to accomplish His purposes — not because of any particular trait of the created, because sometimes we have little to offer as a medium with which God can work.

Moses is not commendable for becoming the leader of a great nation, for he is a murderer. The important point is that God has a plan, and God has chosen to implement it using various parts of creation.

What will make it easier — and better — is for the part of creation chosen by God to be obedient to His desires in work, play, and in leisure times. And in doing that which God asks comes blessing.

In these times of high temperatures and economic droughts, recognizing the blessings for obedience is not easy. Listening for God’s desires is also not easy, as the longings of our hearts are easily pulled astray.

We want peace in our land and bounty for all, as long as it is centered around our way of thinking and benefits those who mean the most to us.

As the leading politicians guide the area in one direction, we rejoice when it passes near us, and we cry out loudly when it passes by others more closely.

When I hear local and national politicians and elected officials rant about the actions and words of others who do not approach a solution in the same way they would, my heart cries.

Hateful e-mails fly through cyberspace, passing by my window of the world. Sound bytes of violence and threats of violence permeate the atmosphere.

Have we forgotten that Jesus loves us and asks us to love one another? As a republic embracing demo- cratic ideals, we have cast our votes for those who appeared to have a plan more appreciated than did not appreciate.

By virtue of their continued presence, one can conclude they just might be one of the “chosen” ones by God.

God works through all kinds of unimaginable articles and situations — even me.

Let us not forget that we can make much more progress when we work together and seek the guidance of the Lord in what needs be done.

I pray for the time all our leaders work with that which God has blessed for the betterment of all peoples, so that the fruitfulness of the blessings for obedience may rain down upon us all in this great land.

And I pray this time comes soon.