Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it. – Deuteronomy 12:32
When it comes to the word “sin,” what is the first thing that comes to mind? Perhaps something that is physically unhealthy, such as smoking, drugs, alcohol, or promiscuity. Or maybe you think of a type of criminal or abusive behavior. These are sins of commission. Christians tend to fall into sins of omission.
The sin of omission means neglecting to do what God says to do, such as loving your neighbor as yourself, treating people the way you want to be treated, being responsible for your children, and seeking God with all your heart. Also in today’s verse, God warns against both taking away or adding to His commands. The Scribes and Pharisees added to God’s commands. They went their own way in trying to please God, doing things legalistically and missing the whole point of having a relationship with Him. Have you ever expected more from yourself than God expects from you?
In your prayer time today, worship Him for who He is and what He has done by sending His Son. Ephesians 1:6 says that you are blessed or accepted in the Beloved. He loves you the way you are. However, He transforms you from the inside out as you renew your mind in His Word (Romans 12:2). Then you will be careful to do the things that He tells you to do.
As you yield yourself to the Holy Spirit, He produces in you the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Pray for the people of the United States, and especially that Christians will seek the Lord so their behavior will influence others to turn to God.
Today’s Verse: Deuteronomy 12:32
“Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: John 14:12-26
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.
25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
