Deuteronomy 12:32–“Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.

One of the things nowadays more commended than anything is creativity.  Creativity has always been a huge component of supplying products and even marketing them. Especially in technology, where the desire to be creative is enhanced by the huge payout that comes from inventing an app or a device that makes things easier…

Though creativity can be used for greatness, and reveals a quality we all have in some capacity, being created in the image of God.  Being creative when it comes to walking with God, can be a literal curse to our lives, if it impedes obedience to devise a way of our own.

When God was leading the children of Israel into the promise land.  He warned them that their occupancy of the land was predicated on obedience to what He commanded.  If they “added” to His commandments or “took” from it, they would reveal their disobedience and curse themselves out of the land.

The moment we get “creative” with our life and the way things should go, as opposed to allowing God to lead where and how it goes, we find ourselves adding burdens that shouldn’t be there.  The verse implies that obedience is to simply do what we are told, and the moment we add to it, or take away from it, we now become the authority of life.

The context of this verse was aimed at Israel, so they would not fall prey to chasing their idols, while “being creative” with God’s directions.  God knew that such veering from what He said, would lead to a life filled with decisions that will accommodate our idols, instead of a pure heart of faith and obedience to His will.  Obedience to clear instructions is “sure-fire way” that we are not acting on our own accord, but Christ alone.

In His Love, Ld