Take it to Heart--The heart is the most important component of the soul; from it, Solomon explained, flow all the issues of life (Prov. 4.23).

The Rule of Law: Government of the Heart (1)

Set your heart on the Law of God.

“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.” Deuteronomy 6.6

The heart is the most important component of the soul; from it, Solomon explained, flow all the issues of life (Prov. 4.23). The rule of God’s Law, unto holiness and righteousness and goodness (Rom. 7.12), must begin in the heart. If the Law is not on our hearts, if it is not shaping our affections in the direction of love for God and neighbor, then we will not be inclined to keep the Law and, thus, will forfeit all the benefits outlined in it.

Moses commanded the people of Israel to “Take to heart” all the words of the Law of God (Deut. 32.46). It’s not enough merely to learn the content of the Law, nor even to carry out its commands in our daily lives. This is the way of legalism, which strives to know and practice the letter of the Law but has no regard for its spirit.

Taking the Law of God to our hearts certainly means that we will need to understand its content. And it will also mean that the Law comes out through our words and works as expressions of the inward work of the Spirit, transforming us increasingly into the image of Jesus Christ (1 Jn. 2.1-6; 2 Cor. 3.12-18). But we must take the Law to heart, allowing it to expose and shape our affections, so that we desire what we are learning and carry out the teaching of the Law with hearts full of gratitude, joy, and love.

The place to begin in taking the Law to heart is by resting in the Spirit of God, pleading with Him and listening for Him as He searches the deep recesses of our hearts to reveal the state and need of our affections with respect to the Law and will of God (Ps. 139.23, 24). This is not a one-time experience; rather, we must learn to take refuge in God’s Spirit and wait upon Him, day by day, as He exposes our deepest affections and turns and shapes them to desire the Law of God from the depths of our hearts.

For a practical guide to the role of God’s Law in the life of faith, get The Ground for Christian Ethics by going to www.ailbe.org and click on our Book Store