For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) (NIV)

If you grew up with a brother or sister, you no doubt have experienced exactly what today's reading addresses. It started something like this: Your sibling, let's say his name is Mikey, would stick his finger about a half inch from your eye. “Mommm,” you'd whine, “Mikey's touching me. Make him stop.” Mom would invariably reply, “Mikey, stop touching your sister!” To which Mikey would snap snarkily, “I'm not touching her.”

‍

Well, technically that is true, but there's so much more to sibling rivalry than black and white truth. Mikey, in this case, clearly has other intentions in mind than simply obeying the letter of the law. He wants to bug his sister. His actions reflect the law, but his motivation reflects his heart.

‍

Raise your hand if you've ever been a Mikey?

Okay everyone, put your hands down. I'll do the same. We've all been Mikey at some point in our lives. God knows this and expends quite a few words in His Word addressing this.

‍

1 Samuel 15:22 says, “But Samuel replied: 'Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.'”

‍

This Old Testament verse expresses God's desire for us to obey Him with a willing heart, not to blindly follow the law of sacrifice. Following Him willingly is so much more pleasing to Him than the pleasant aroma of ram fat sizzling on an altar. God is much more focused on the heart.

‍

Matthew 23:23 says, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices... But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness.”

‍

Yes, the law exists, but hearing it is just a step in the process. We are also called to live it. If you want to truly know if you truly love God, truly your heart will truly desire to truly love others. That's a lot of trulys, but truly, it's true.

‍

Now, please don't confuse the motivation of your heart with salvation. Salvation, though bought at a terrible cost, is simple for us: “If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9).

‍

One of my favorite Pastors, Dr. J. Vernon McGee, puts it this way: “I hear it said that the heathen are lost because they haven’t heard of Christ and haven’t accepted Him. My friend, they are lost because they are sinners. That’s the condition of all mankind. Men are not saved by the light they have; they are judged by the light they have.”

‍

Notice the distinction? We are saved by belief not works. As we've all been a Mikey at some point in our lives, this is good news! Thanks be to God!

‍

So, focusing back on our hearts, if your heart is hardened, ask Him to “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Ps. 51:10).

‍

If He's “removed from you your heart of stone and given you a heart of flesh” (Ezek. 36:26), exercise your heart by loving others as God loves you.

‍

The choice is yours, as, “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7).

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Your name. Thank You for desiring me rather than a set of rules. Thank You for knowing me so intimately that You give me exactly the instruction I need to follow You with a heart of flesh. For those times, Lord, when my heart is stone, open my eyes to Your Word and return to me a heart of flesh. For Yours is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever, Amen.