March 13

Deuteronomy 3:21-5:33

As Moses begins to recount the instructions of God for Israel, he begins with a critical statement. He tells them not to add or subtract from what God has said but to accept the revelation as he has given it. The temptation to lessen or increase the demands of God is universal. In fact, at the beginning of history, Satan tempted Eve by getting her to take away from what God had said. Her response proved that she had already added to what God told her.

We may want to add things to make ourselves feel more spiritual or we may want to take away to lessen the demands of God, but what we desperately need is to accept what God has told us. This does not mean we attempt to apply God's old covenant law to our lives, but it does mean we do the hard work of understanding how God has called us to live and choose to walk in obedience. This work is hard, in fact, impossible without the Spirit's power, but it is where we gain greater intimacy with God and greater fruit of the Spirit. Let us not swing between the extremes of legalism and libertarianism, but rather live in obedience to the things of God. We do this not to earn his love, but we do this to respond to his already given love.

Father God, thank you for your instructions. Help me to have wisdom to apply your word to my life and give me power through your Spirit to live in obedience to these commands. Help me not to add or take away but accept what you have told me. Amen. 

Where in your life are you tempted to add or take away from God's instructions?

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