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November 30 Daily Devotional

(Monthly Theme: Christ's Full Victory)

Last Warning

Rev. Andrew Kuyvenhoven

"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If any one of you adds anything to them ... if any one of you takes words away from this scroll of prophecy...." —Revelation 22:18-19

Bible Reading

REVELATION 22:18-21

Devotional

A warning is not the same as a threat. A warning is intended to keep us from evil. A threat is the announcement of evil.

Parents are forever giving warnings to their children. "Be careful when you cross the street." "Don't accept rides from strangers." "Don't forget to drink your milk."

When the children grow up, they joke about it with their folks. But now they can see how those warnings showed how much their parents love them.

When sons or daughters leave the house, all grown up, they often get a kiss from their parents and a last word of warning.

And here on the last page of the Bible, when we are just about to close the book, we also receive a last word of warning. It is simply this: Don't tamper with the book.

We may not add anything to it. This Word is sufficient. Whatever we add is too much. So don't believe in teachings God has not revealed. And don't obey rules that God has not commanded.

We may not subtract anything from it either. This Word must be kept whole. Resist the tendency to reduce the Word to what is palatable, understandable, or workable.

We have received a Word from the Lord our God. This is God's revelation. God has told us what he has done, what he is doing, and what he is going to do. God also arranged to have this all written down for us. We may have our differences about the interpretation of some of his words—no one understands it all, and we need each other and God's Spirit to understand. But for your life's sake, don't tamper with the book.

That's God's final warning. God loves us so much that he must warn us. Our very lives depend on what we do with the book.

REFLECTIONS

How does this warning apply to you personally? How might you be tempted to "add to" or "subtract from" God's Word?


Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.

 

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