Tag: Draw Near

The Law Within

I have a comparison of the Old Covenant and the New Covenant in the back of my Bible and where my current study is not directly related to these, law is and is an important thing for me to remember. The Old Covenant was an external one where we were informed of what was needed so the LORD would not exact his wrath on us. We were given the law to abide and were reminded of our sin. The New Covenant is internal and we are drawn near to the LORD in protection from the evil in the world. We are given the law to remove sin from our lives.

“33But 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. An I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” – Jeremiah 31:33 (ESV)

The LORD will put His law within me, not just give it to me, but write it on my heart for always. My heart is within me and that is where He places His law. Reading and visualizing this morning has opened my eyes a bit more to the intentional actions of the LORD in my life. He does not just provide the law for me, He writes it on my heart within me. He no longer is driving fear in me, but faith. He does not keep me away from Him, but draws me near.

“1I love you, O LORD, my strength.”

— Psalm 18:1 (ESV)

When I look to the New Covenant and see that the LORD writes His law on my heart, the above verse hits a little different. Our strength comes from the LORD, and now, I know and can take solace in the fact that strength has been written on my heart and comes from and will always be within me.

Where is God’s Law in your life? Are you still trembling in fear to keep from sin? What if you embrace the LORD and His Law as He writes on your heart and gives you strength to be realized is within you?

Draw Near With and From the Heart

This morning I was led to the book of Hebrews and reminded of a sermon series titled, “Jesus is Better”. This was the series that was being delivered when I first began my dedication to studying God’s Word and sharing my learning through my writing.

“19Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God,22let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” – Hebrews 10:19 – 22 (ESV)

In the verses above I was reminded that “Jesus is Better” in that He gave all of Himself in death for me. He provided the way for me to commune directly with Him and not through another. That He is the High Priest. And that I have the opportunity to draw near to Him because of it.

Here is the catch, cause as we all know there is always a catch. I come and draw near to Jesus from my heart. Not with platitudes or sayings for the world to see and hear. Not just showing up on Sunday mornings or at Christmas and Easter. Not simply through my words. But I draw near to Jesus our LORD with and from my heart that is filled with Him and where I am led by the Holy Spirit.

The title of the passage in my ESV Bible where I am in this morning is “The Full Assurance of Faith”. Not the temporary assurance. Not the assurance for now, but the “full” assurance. I know in my heart and from my heart that Jesus died in my place and that because of that, I have the chance to draw near to Him. In that chance, I am assured that He is there when I come. I know without a doubt that He is waiting for me. I am confident that He is their waiting for me with His arms wide ready to comfort and protect me from any and all. I draw near to Him with and from my heart. Jesus is Better than any and all that came before or come after.

How are you coming to Jesus? Are you coming to Him from the surface of your life? What if you were to look in your heart and find the one who is better, Jesus, and draw near to Him with and from your heart?