July 7 -- "Be Careful Not to Turn Aside"

 Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 5

"Be Careful Not to Turn Aside"

One of the most prevalent sins in Christianity today is the sin of “carelessness.”  So many people do not give as much care to their walk with God as necessary.  We give a great deal of attention to things like managing our investments, planning our vacation, and our kids’ sports.  But do we give that much attention to our spiritual walk?  Are we “careful” to obey God’s word?

Here, Moses strongly urges the people of God to be “careful” (watchful, vigilant, alert) to do as the LORD has commanded.  This is a call to repent of inattentiveness and distraction and place our efforts fully into following the Lord’s commands.

In chapter 4 of Deuteronomy, Moses urged the people to learn the truths of God so deeply that they go down into their heart and permeate every aspect of their being.  Today, he takes it a step further… once you have God’s word in your heart, be sure to obey it.  Don’t just know it, be very careful to observe it and do it.

He urges them not to turn aside to the right hand or left hand.  The way of truth and righteousness is a straight line; a person must walk straight forward who wishes to go to glory. No crooked or devious path ever led to God or His blessings.  There are no shortcuts.  Stay on the path. Proverbs 16:17 tells us that “The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life.”  As God’s people we are to turn aside from evil while never turning aside from God and His righteousness.

Staying on course and not veering off the path is like sailing a ship across the vast and unpredictable ocean. The sailor sets a fixed destination and charts a course, guided by navigational tools and starry constellations. Amidst turbulent waves and changing winds, the sailor resists the temptation to change direction, knowing that doing so would lead the ship astray. With unwavering determination and a steady hand on the rudder, the sailor remains focused on the established route, ultimately reaching the desired port of safety. 

Similarly, in life, we must navigate through the challenges and distractions, holding fast to our moral compass and the teachings of our faith, without veering to the right or left to arrive at the "port" of purpose, righteousness, and everlasting life.