The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Deuteronomy 4:2,
"Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you."
As Moses prepared to recount the laws the Lord gave Israel, he warned them not to add to those words or take away from those words. The Lord is very particular about anyone adding and taking away from his revelation to us all.
We read in Proverbs 30:5-6, "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar."
The Lord has given us his word and he is not pleased when anyone attempts to add to it. The Qur'an and the book of Mormon both come to mind here. Both claim to be the very words of God and all who truck with them will pay a hefty price.
At the end of the revelation given John we read, "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll." Revelation 22:18-19.
Anyone who adulterates the word of God, our Bibles, will fall under condemnation. One reason for this is that the words of God are meant to reveal to us who he is and what he is like. He is not happy with those who would distort his pristine revelation of himself. Another reason not to trifle with the word of God is that he intends it to accomplish important things in our lives. Paul told Timothy, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 1 Timothy 3:16-17.
God intends his unadulterated word to work in our lives for our spiritual development, "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." Romans 15:4. Distorting, adding to, or subtracting from his words compromises God's purposes in our lives.
In writing about Paul's letters, Peter points out that those who distort God's word given through Paul will pay a heavy penalty, "He [Paul] writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction."
"Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you."
As Moses prepared to recount the laws the Lord gave Israel, he warned them not to add to those words or take away from those words. The Lord is very particular about anyone adding and taking away from his revelation to us all.
We read in Proverbs 30:5-6, "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar."
The Lord has given us his word and he is not pleased when anyone attempts to add to it. The Qur'an and the book of Mormon both come to mind here. Both claim to be the very words of God and all who truck with them will pay a hefty price.
At the end of the revelation given John we read, "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll." Revelation 22:18-19.
Anyone who adulterates the word of God, our Bibles, will fall under condemnation. One reason for this is that the words of God are meant to reveal to us who he is and what he is like. He is not happy with those who would distort his pristine revelation of himself. Another reason not to trifle with the word of God is that he intends it to accomplish important things in our lives. Paul told Timothy, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 1 Timothy 3:16-17.
God intends his unadulterated word to work in our lives for our spiritual development, "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." Romans 15:4. Distorting, adding to, or subtracting from his words compromises God's purposes in our lives.
In writing about Paul's letters, Peter points out that those who distort God's word given through Paul will pay a heavy penalty, "He [Paul] writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction."
An important exhortation to us all: don't mess with God's word!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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