Deuteronomy 4

Devotional:
Do not add to or subtract from these commands I am giving you. Just obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you. (Deuteronomy 4:2).

Adding to or removing words from God’s commands is DANGEROUS (also see Revelation 22:18-19), as it distorts the righteous statues and ordinances God has given (4:7). God has to warn us about this danger because it is a temptation we all face and it is easy for us to do. The Israelites did it repeatedly and in many ways, justifying their worship of other gods or creation of idols to represent God (as described in 4:15-25). We might not bow down to physical idols, but we sometimes choose to follow our desires or ignore God’s commands in many ways. Only careful attention to hear and do the very words that God has given us will keep us from falling into that trap.

Pray it:
Father, help me fight the natural tendency I have to either add to or take away from your Word by paying close attention to your exact words and follow them even when they go against my natural desires or the values of the world around me. Amen.

Share it:
Who is someone you can share a verse or thought from this passage with?