Deuteronomy 23 - 9.27.2024
Scripture - Pick one verse that stood out to you.
Deuteronomy 23:21-23
If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the Lord your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin. But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty. Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the Lord your God with your own mouth.
Observation - What about this verse stands out to you?
Maybe it is because I feel the winds of change blowing in my life again, I have become more reminiscent of late. As I read Deuteronomy this morning and was, as per usual, struck by its rigidity, my heart and my brain were also struck by several moments in my overly-zealous youth, when I made promises to You, that I shouldn’t have…
I probably should have asked for forgiveness again and right away. Instead I just sat here shaking my head at my younger self letting a small tidal wave of misbehavior resurface, and remind me of what I had been like.
I apologize, Lord. For it all. I think about my youth and I can’t help but wince at times (and not just at times during my youth). I am so lucky that You have been patient with me. So loving with me. My hope is that I can continue to grow in Your wisdom and love.
Application - How will you apply this to your life?
Matthew 5:33-37
“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
I want to continue to put this into practice today, Lord Jesus.
Prayer - Write out a prayer.
Forgive me Lord, I have but ignorance as my poor excuse. As the years have rolled on I have become better at controlling what enters my mind, what is conceived in my heart, and what comes out of my mouth. But I can be better. Let my yes be yes and let my no be no. I aim to become a man of my word. Help me to work at this and grow deeper in this principle, Lord. I thank you for being so patient with me all these years. I am still not sure why I have been given such a great opportunity to continue growing in you, but I am grateful for every second that I have been given. I thank You so much for your wisdom Lord. With Love. In the name of Jesus do I pray, amen.
-kenneth lee