Having something written on paper is one thing; having it written on my heart is quite another. My father was a writer. To my knowledge, he never had anything published, but he wrote nonetheless. For almost 50 years, he preached. Three times each week, he delivered sermons to his congregations, and three times every week he took pen and paper and wrote the words he planned to say. His spiral bound books of sermons—along with the many loose leaf ones he composed, are now snuggly tucked away in my possession. As time progresses, the pages will yellow and the ink will fade. Eventually, the words may become illegible, but his words will remain as long as I do. For most of those 50 years, I listened to his sermons. His words are written on my heart.
God gave his original words to his people on stone tablets. His commands were clearly visible for them to view. Having them written on stone, however, carried no weight in matters of obedience just as my father’s sermons couldn’t force anyone to obey his pleadings. A greater force was needed. Under the new covenant Jesus established, words are no longer written on paper but on the heart.
God has placed his laws in my mind and written them on my heart. No one has to tell me what they are; my conscience clues me in. Now that I have them on my heart, they aren’t cumbersome to obey. Rather, I willingly and enjoyably obey his demands and plans for my life. If every Bible and religious book in the world were destroyed, God’s word would remain in the hearts of his people. He has engraved it there.
Enemies nor time nor torrential elements can remove it from where it’s embedded. What was once a set of external rules is now internal—a set of commands the Holy Spirits continually reminds us of and encourages us to obey.
How are you reacting to the laws God has written on your heart?
Prayer: Father, we thank You for placing Your word in our hearts where it is always safe and available.
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