Grace begins in the heart, or it is not grace at all.

“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you for your good?” Deuteronomy 10.12, 13

Grace begins in the heart, or it is not grace at all. In Psalm 50 God calls His people to assemble in worship before Him. They come together with all the requisite forms and according to all the appropriate practices and protocols. But He makes it clear to them that none of the externals of worship mean anything to Him apart from hearts devoted to thanksgiving and obedience (vv. 12-15). The grace God extends to His people must be acknowledged from the heart, with sincere gratitude and a determination to trust and obey Him, for all His commandments are for our good.

The ceremonial laws of Israel were given in order to train the people to fear the Lord and to love Him with all their souls and lives. By frequent and faithful use of sacrifices and offerings the people would be encouraged to search their hearts, first, to make sure they were giving cheerfully and not grudgingly, and, second, to settle in to the pleasure of God as He received their offerings. God did not need Israel’s sacrifices and offerings; however, it pleased Him for them to give them. These were His means for them to express their trust in and love for Him as they disciplined their hearts to conform to His purposes and will.

The ceremonial laws thus remind us that God looks on the heart. All our giving – whether to the Lord in worship or our neighbors in service – must be from the heart, or it is not of grace at all. As God looks on our hearts, so also must we, waiting before the Lord while He searches our hearts and renews us in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (Pss. 139.23, 24; 51.10, 17). The first lesson of giving from the sacrifices and offerings God required is that all giving, as an acknowledgment and expression of grace, must be from the heart.

For a fuller study of the pattern of worship revealed in Scripture, order the book, The Highest Thing, by T. M. Moore, from our online store. These studies and brief essays will help you to see how the pattern of sound worship, which began in the Law of God, comes to complete expression in the rest of Scripture. Pastors, we’re getting ready to start the next season of The Pastors’ Fellowship. Write to me today at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for information about how you join in these online discussions. Our theme for the coming series is “The Worldview of God’s Law.” There is no charge for participation, but you must reserve a place for these monthly gatherings. Subscribe to Crosfigell, the devotional newsletter of The Fellowship of Ailbe.