Jeremiah 31:33-34 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”

Hallelujah! I think there is hardly a more glorious promise in all of the Bible! I hardly know where to begin in writing about it. From the time of Moses we have had an external code to go by, but human nature is to try to find ways to evade or get around such things. We don’t recognize that God’s laws are for our good, so we work hard at doing ourselves harm! However, when God writes His laws on our hearts, we desire obedience rather than rebellion, and we walk in all the abundant blessings God intends for us. At this point, every real Christian is concerned to help those he cares about know the Lord, but this promise is that such concern will no longer be necessary, because all will know Him. How wonderful is that?! However, such a blessed state is possible only because God is willing and able to forgive all our guilt and forget all our sin because His Son took all of that on Himself on the cross, washing it away with His blood. That is the core of the Gospel, the good news of salvation. It is only when we believe what God has done for us in Christ that our hearts are open for His Spirit to write His law on our hearts, and we live as His people, His children indeed.

This is of course the message I preach, but it must also be the truth I live by. If I ignore what God has written on my heart, I will suffer the consequences. I am still human enough that there is an excitement to breaking the rules, but spiritual maturity teaches me how foolish that is. That said, legalism is not the answer. Legalism is all about external standards, but this passage, God’s plan, is about the Holy Spirit within us delighting to serve God. That is how I desire to live, and how I desire to lead others to live.

Father, this trip is an intensive course in the consequences of ignoring Your laws. I see so much suffering, the vast majority of which is totally unnecessary, because it comes simply from ignoring Your laws. I continue to ask that You enable me to speak Your truth in love, never condemning people but helping them see the foolishness of rebellion against You. May my words be salt and light, drawing people to You rather than driving them away, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!