Deuteronomy 4:1–2: “Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers is giving you. You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take anything from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”

February 19th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

In Deuteronomy the Israelites finally enter into the good land God had appointed for them, and as they entered He told them how they could obtain His blessing. He called them to do what every parent since Adam and Eve has called their children to do: listen and obey. And neither God’s desire to bless His children nor the way to obtain that blessing has changed one bit in 34 centuries; we must listen and obey His word.

God has warned His people that there is great danger in tampering with His word. Paul the Apostle wrote to Timothy in the New Testament: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). “Rightly divide” is the Greek word orthotomeo, and means cutting straight. This word is often used to describe a man plowing a field in straight lines. We are to plow a straight course through the word of truth by not adding to, deleting from, or distorting it in any way. But it is so difficult to keep on the straight and narrow, isn’t it?

Some have decided that because it is so difficult, there must be something wrong with the Bible itself. So they decide to adjust the Word of God to fit their lifestyle, instead of letting the Word of God adjust them. We must guard against this temptation to allow ourselves to judge the Word instead of it judging and changing us. How can it change us? When it painfully points to our sins of omission and commission, it forces us into a corner where we have to make a decision. Will we deny our guilt, deaden our conscience, and compromise our integrity? Or will we simply stop, quiet ourselves before the Creator, and once again ask for His forgiveness?

“LORD, we choose not to add to or take anything away from Your Word, and we confess that we are guilty sinners before, You, the Holy God. Forgive us again this day we humbly ask in Jesus’ name.”