PASTORS' DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Jul
11

Take It To Heart

John Tilton

Scripture
Hebrews 10:8 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
Observation
As we’ve read, the people of Israel did not heed the will and purpose of God’s covenant with them. They knew it in their mind having been taught by their leaders, whom possibly were part of the problem in distorting the covenant by adding their own beliefs and rituals to it. However, knowing God’s covenant in their mind was not enough to prompt them to take God’s covenant to heart so that it would come forth in their actions. Thus, the Lord’s love for His people in spite of their disobedience prompted Him to establish a new covenant to make room for their anticipated disobedience by forgiving them for what He knew man would in fact do, but giving His son Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for man’s sinful shortcomings and disobedience. The new covenant not only would be put in man’s mind, but written on man’s heart, so that man would be His people and commune with God.
Application
The key is my taking God’s covenant to heart by allowing God to write His law, will and ways on my heart. How do I do that? It is through my time in the word; not just reading the Word, but dwelling on the inspired Word of God and keeping it in my thoughts throughout the day by relating it to my life and what it means in life’s situations. Thus, making it applicable to my life. Then, when God convicts me or teaches me through His Word, to internalize it and dwell on His goodness, grace, faithfulness and love through His Word.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for reminding me of the difference between reading your Word and taking your Word to heart so that your new covenant will not only be in my mind, but written on my heart so that I may respond in obedience in communion with you. May I then be better prepared to live in this world by living in your will.

Devotions for July 11

Isaiah 8,9,10
Hebrews 8

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