Day By Day By Grace
Bob Hoekstra
May 4, 2010
You are manifestly an epistle of Christ...written...not on tablets of
stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.
(2 Corinthians 3:3)
The old covenant of law was written upon "tablets of stone." The new
covenant of grace is written upon "tablets...of the heart." This is
another vital contrast between the old and new covenants. This
difference again decides whether we draw upon man's sufficiency or upon
God's.
The old covenant message of God's law was written on stones. It called
man to holiness, as measured by the character of God. "You shall be
holy, for I the LORD your God am holy" (Leviticus 19:2). The message is
magnificent. However, its impact would be limited (by design), since it
was written on "tablets of stone." It was inscribed upon an inanimate
object that was external to human lives. Consequently, it could not
bring life or any provision for transforming lives. The law would
function as a perfect standard, revealing our unholiness and convicting
us of our need for what Jesus Christ alone could offer. We needed to
have the perfect message of the law (holiness) implanted in our
innermost being. This is what the new covenant of grace accomplishes.
The new covenant message of God's grace is written on human hearts: "on
tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart." Grace not only forgives our
failure before the law, but it works to develop personal holiness at
the very core of our being. This was the promise God gave through His
prophets of old, that He would put His holy law into peoples' hearts.
The book of Hebrews applies this promise to all believers in Jesus
Christ."This is the covenant that I will make with them after those
days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts" (Hebrews
10:16).
What hope we have through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ! Now, God
transfers His holiness from an outside standard to an internal
resource. Now, the Lord is making His holy requirements an internal
part of our being, as we humbly trust in Him. God is stirring holy
desires in us, as we earnestly seek after Him. God is developing holy
priorities within us and providing spiritual strength within us to walk
in more and more godliness. "It is God who works in you both to will
and to do for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).
O Holy Father, I would be hopeless, if Your perfect standard remained
outside of me, demanding holiness by my performance. Thank You for
bringing Your holy will inside of my life, providing internal resource
for living and growing in godliness. Lord, I look to You to transform
me from the inside out, in Jesus' name, Amen.
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