For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Hebrews 8: 10, NKJV
Thank You Lord, for Your law within. Please help us to live it out to Your honor and glory. In the name of Jesus. Amen
One definition of internalize is: “to adopt the beliefs, values, and attitudes of others either consciously or unconsciously.” That is one word I think of whenever I read this text. Why? Because I believe that when Christ writes His laws upon our hearts, we adopt His life, which eventually, becomes our way of life. The process seems to begin on a conscious level, and then it progresses to an unconscious level. Let me explain. When we learn something, we learn it at a conscious level. All of a sudden it makes sense. We can explain it, because we understand the logic behind it. Then, as we apply it to our day to day experience it becomes as natural (unconscious) as breathing.
I believe that a good example of living the law of God at an “unconscious” level is found in the parable of the sheep and goats, in Matthew 25: 31 -41. The sheep are doing everything that Christ would do. They are visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, taking in the stranger, putting clothes on the naked, and visiting those in prison (34-40). By studying the life of their Master, they become conscious of the fact that that is what Christ did; and would do; so they begin to walk in His footsteps (1 John 2: 6). With the passing of time, this becomes their way of life, and they no longer have to be reminded of these things. They are now functioning at an unconcious level. The love of Christ, placed there by Christ Himself, is operating on automatic! They are not even conscious of their service of love to “the least of these. This is their delight. This is just the way they live. “Jesus, when did we see You…?
There is another feature to this experience. Paul stated it this way: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for Me” (Galatians 2: 20). Christ comes in and abides with us (we studied this about a week ago), and enables us to live the law within. It all takes place internally, because God’s law is written within. I am convinced that we would be happier Christians, if the finger of God had written upon our hearts! We would serve God naturally. It is time for us, as believers in Christ, to start praying to enter into this covenant with God! While here on earth, Jesus walked in the will of His Father; and here is the reason why, “I delight to do Your will, O My God, and Your law is within My heart” (Psalm 40: 8). Jesus lived and died, doing the Father’s will, because the Father’s law was within His heart.
This promise is referred to as the “new covenant” (Jeremiah 31: 33). Israel had tried in vain to be faithful, and to live according to God’s law, in their own strength; “And all the people answered together, and said, ‘All that the Lord hath spoken we will do’ ” (Exodus 19: 8). Time and again, they failed miserably. Then God, in His infinite mercy, showed them the only way it could be done, by converting their hearts into tablets of flesh, and with His finger, writing His holy law upon them.
When this takes place, “Christ within,” will become, our “hope of glory” (Colossians 1: 27)!