A HIGHER STANDARD

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Deuteronomy 23:21-24 ESV
“If you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay fulfilling it, for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin. But if you refrain from vowing, you will not be guilty of sin. You shall be careful to do what has passed your lips, for you have voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth. 

¶When our word is reliable, we do not need to bind ourselves with a vow to the Lord. It's just who we are. In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:33-37), Jesus Christ encourages us to speak simply and with integrity when we make an agreement. Like so much of this sermon, Jesus is not releasing us, but calling us to a higher standard. He calls us "the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14), not only speaking God's truth, but reflecting God's truthfulness. The sacrifice, the vow, that pleases Him is the "sacrifice of praise...the fruit of lips that praise His name...and doing good and sharing" (Hebrews 13:15-16). We do not bind ourselves to the heavens  to achieve earthly goals.

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