Dave's Diary

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 4:1-9

As we continue to consider the Ancient Path of Christian Action, today’s reading begins with Moses laying down a very important principle for God’s people: “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.” We are not to be like those who gather around them teachers “to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3). Instead of adjusting God’s instructions to suit our understanding of the world and our preferences, we are to bring our understanding, our preferences and our decision-making into submission to the perfect will of God as revealed in His Word.

This won’t be easy in our current self-focussed culture, where we are so frequently encouraged to “follow our dreams”, “listen to our hearts”, and “be true to ourselves”. Following God’s desires, listening to God’s Word and being true to His will are very countercultural. But we are called to be a different people, a peculiar people, a people of God’s Will: ⁵ See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may follow them … ⁶ Observe them carefully …

And then there is a wonderful promise for the people of God. It was true in an external way for those under the old covenant, but for those under the new covenant mediated by Jesus it is true internally: “The Lord our God is near us.” (v.7)

Putting God’s Word into action makes us distinct from those around us, and it can attract opposition. But the promise of God is that no matter what we face, He is with us, He is near us, and, in fact, through our faith in Christ, He is within us.

So let us live to please the Lord today, knowing full well that He is with us, He will guide us, and He will empower us to do His will Amen!