Ministry Resources

Day 253: Don’t Move the Landmark

Author: Richard J. Bennett

Today’s Scripture: Proverbs 22:28

Central Thought: While some standards may change over time, we must not abandon the fundamental truths of the gospel.

The newlyweds were preparing to celebrate their first major holiday together as husband and wife. Before placing the ham in the baking dish, she cut the end off the ham. Her husband asked her why she did that. Her reply, ‘I don’t know. My mom always did it that way.” Curiosity got the better of him, so he called his mother-in-law and asked her the same question. She gave him the same answer. So he called the grandmother. Her response, ‘I never had a baking dish large enough to hold the ham, so I always cut the end off.”

Sometimes, as in the story above, we observe traditions that are passed down to us without our understanding of why they are important. We need to understand the importance and vital nature of the gospel we have received so we can live it and pass it on to others with understanding.

Proverbs 22:28 states, ‘Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set.” These landmarks marked the boundaries of the land each of the tribes received when the land of Canaan was portioned out to the Israelites. The land was considered to be a gift from God, who had commanded that the land was not to pass from the tribe to whom it had been given as an inheritance. To move a landmark would have been wrong.

Christians have received a gift from God, His Word. And while there is room for differences in understanding and interpretation on the details of God’s Word, we must not move the ‘landmarks” of the gospel. These landmarks include salvation through faith in Christ, divine healing, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and the return of Christ. Without these spiritual landmarks, we cannot have a right relationship with God or live in a way that is pleasing to Him.

Devotional Prayer: Lord God, help us to hold fast to the truths of the gospel that are the foundation of our relationship with You.

Today’s Bible Reading: Isaiah 3:1-5:30; 2 Corinthians 11:1-15; Psalm 53:1-6; Proverbs 22:28-29

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