KEEP GOD’S LAW IN YOUR MIND AND HIS WORD WRITTEN ON YOUR HEART

SCRIPTURE:

“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.  34 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.” (Jeremiah 31:33—34)

OBSERVATION:

God is a God of the covenant he made between him and his people.  He made a covenant here with the people of Israel.  A covenant is an agreement between two parties.  Jeremiah reminded Israel of God’s covenant in the past with the earlier generation.  Jeremiah reminded them of God’s promises in the past, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.  I will build you up again, and you, Virgin Israel, will be rebuilt. Again, you will take up your timbrels and go out to dance with the joyful.  Again, you will plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria; the farmers will plant them and enjoy their fruit.”

And in this text, God sent Jeremiah to tell the people of a new covenant different from the one God did with their ancestors when he took them from the land of Egypt.  God still loved them with an everlasting love, drawing them with unfailing kindness. God wants to go further with this generation of Israelites.  God’s new covenant with the people of Israel is, “I will put my law in their minds and write it their hearts.  The word of the Lord must be in the minds and hearts.  This is where all the emotions, decisions, thoughts, feelings and reasoning take place.  The mind and the heart must be impacted by God’s word.  These two components of their being must continually be subjected to renewal by God’s law or word.

God also declares that He will be their God, and they will be my people.  Everyone will no longer need a neighbor to teach them or anyone to remind them, “Know the Lord, because everyone will know him.  Each person from the least to the greatest will have a personal relationship with God and know they belong to him.   For those who have a relationship with God, the good news is; that God will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.  This is the promise for those whose lives have been changed, whose mind has God’s law, and whose hearts His word is written in it.  And moreover, those who Know God are the ones who have a personal relationship with him and whose sins have been forgiven.

The important thing to remember for me is that this covenant is a declaration from God.  It is God who is making the declaration and not the people of Israelites.  God knows who are his.  No one can declare that they belong to God unless they have God’s word in their minds and written in their hearts and furthermore, they have a personal relationship with God, knowing God has forgiven them of all their wickedness.  This is the good news. God keeps his covenant with those who have a relationship with him.

APPLICATION:

What a joy to know that God’s covenant is not based on anything I do or any good thing works I have performed.  My righteousness is but a filthy rag.  I will continue to place the utmost importance on my relationship with God.  During my devotion, I will allow the Holy Spirit to put his law in my mind and write his word in my heart.  I choose to have a personal daily relationship with God and to value his forgiveness for my wickedness.  I will continue to have his word impacted my thinking and my emotions daily.

PRAYER:

Father, thank you for reminding me of the power of your covenants and promises in my life.  I ask that you continue to put your law and write your word deep in my heart so I may walk in fear of you.  I confess that I sometimes neglect the importance of spending time with your word.  Please help me to be faithful to my relationship with you.  Thank you for the forgiveness of my wickedness.  I thank you that you are faithful and a Father who keeps your word. Amen!