January 25: "I Will Put My Law in Their Hearts"
Jeremiah 31:33 (ESV)
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
Read The Full Devotional Below.
The Longing for Transformation
Imagine you inherit an ancient treasure map. Its edges are torn, its markings faded, but it promises riches beyond your wildest dreams. The only problem? You’ve lost the key to decipher the map’s directions. You spend years studying it, carrying it with you everywhere, but its meaning remains a mystery. Frustration grows as you realize you’re holding something incredibly valuable yet utterly inaccessible.
For centuries, God’s people lived with His law as a kind of treasure map. Written on tablets of stone, it revealed the path to life, joy, and peace. But try as they might, their hearts were not able to fully grasp and obey its depths. Jeremiah 31:33 speaks of a promise that changed everything—a promise of transformation not from the outside in, but from the inside out. Today, we’re going to explore what it means to have God’s law written on our hearts and how it changes everything about the way we live.
The Programmer and the Code
There was once a gifted programmer named Liam who dreamed of creating software that could solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges—poverty, disease, and even loneliness. He worked tirelessly, building lines of code that would bring his vision to life. He poured his heart into it, designing an intricate system that could analyze problems and suggest solutions.
But no matter how flawless the code looked, something always went wrong. When the program was deployed, it seemed to rebel. Instead of solving problems, it created new ones—errors that multiplied beyond control. It frustrated Liam to no end. He would patch the bugs, revise the code, and try again, but the problem wasn’t in the program’s design. It was in the operating system of the machines that ran it. The operating system was fundamentally broken, unable to fully receive the instructions he wrote.
One day, Liam had a breakthrough. Instead of fixing the external code, he decided to rebuild the operating system itself. He created a new foundation—one that could run the program flawlessly because it was no longer in conflict with the instructions. When he tested it, the results were breathtaking. The program worked seamlessly, transforming lives in ways Liam had only dreamed of.
In this parable, Liam is like God, and the broken operating system represents the human heart. The external law was perfect, but our hearts—the operating systems—were incapable of running it without error. The New Covenant promised in Jeremiah 31:33 is the spiritual equivalent of Liam’s breakthrough: God doesn’t just give us better instructions; He transforms our hearts so we can live out His will with joy and freedom.
Understanding the New Covenant
To fully grasp the beauty of Jeremiah 31:33, we need to understand its context. Jeremiah prophesied during a time when Israel was in spiritual decline. They had broken the covenant made at Mount Sinai, where God’s law was given on stone tablets. The law was good and holy, but the people’s hearts were not. They kept falling into idolatry, rebellion, and sin.
In response, God promised a new covenant—one not based on external obedience but on internal transformation. Instead of writing His law on stone, He would inscribe it directly on their hearts. This promise finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Through His death and resurrection, He made a way for the Holy Spirit to dwell within us, transforming us from the inside out.
What Does This Mean for Us Today?
God’s Law Becomes Personal: When the law is written on our hearts, it’s no longer a list of rules we grudgingly follow. It becomes the very fabric of who we are. Think about the difference between memorizing a recipe and knowing it so well you can cook it instinctively. God’s law moves from being external instructions to internal convictions, shaping our desires and actions.
We Are Empowered by the Holy Spirit: The new covenant isn’t about striving in our own strength. God has given us His Spirit to guide, convict, and empower us. The Holy Spirit works within us to transform our hearts, aligning our will with God’s.
We Experience True Freedom: Many people think of God’s law as restrictive, but when it’s written on our hearts, it becomes a source of freedom. Psalm 119:32 says, “I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!” True freedom isn’t the absence of boundaries; it’s living in alignment with God’s perfect design.
We Reflect God’s Character: When God’s law is written on our hearts, we begin to reflect His character in the world. Our lives become a testimony to His grace and truth, drawing others to Him.
Practical Steps to Embrace This Transformation
Surrender Daily: Transformation begins with surrender. Each day, ask God to mold your heart and align your desires with His will.
Meditate on Scripture: One way God writes His law on our hearts is through His Word. Spend time meditating on Scripture, letting it sink deep into your soul.
Invite the Holy Spirit’s Work: Pray for the Holy Spirit to fill you and guide you. Listen for His promptings and obey with a willing heart.
Live in Community: God often uses other believers to shape us. Surround yourself with people who encourage and challenge you to live out your faith.
A Love Written on Our Hearts
Picture this: God, the Creator of the universe, leaning down to inscribe His love and His ways on the tablet of your heart. This isn’t just a promise; it’s a profound act of intimacy. It means you are known, chosen, and cherished. It means you belong to Him, and He belongs to you.
That moment you realize His law is no longer something you strive to live up to but something that flows naturally from within—that’s the moment of true freedom. It’s the moment you stop asking, “What do I have to do?” and start asking, “Lord, how can I reflect Your love today?”
A New Heart for a New Life
God’s promise in Jeremiah 31:33 isn’t just ancient history; it’s a living reality for us today. Through Christ, we have received new hearts, empowered by the Holy Spirit to live in alignment with God’s will. This isn’t a burdensome command; it’s a gift that brings joy, freedom, and purpose.
Let’s Close in a Prayer…
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of the new covenant. Thank You for writing Your law on our hearts and for giving us the Holy Spirit to guide us. Transform us from the inside out so that we may reflect Your love and truth in all we do. Help us to live as Your people, surrendered to Your will and empowered by Your grace. In Jesus’ name, amen.
An Invitation to go Deeper….
Join us in the FaithLabz 30-Day Prayer Challenge, where we’ll dive deeper into what it means to live with God’s law written on our hearts. Let’s journey together toward greater intimacy with Him and a life of purpose and joy.
