Mar 21 (Daily reading: Deuteronomy 30-31) Moses spoke of the heart seven times in chapter 30. The first time refers to a revival in your heart: “You return to the LORD your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul” (v. 2). This should be a daily activity as long as sinning is a daily activity!
God’s work in your heart is described as circumcision: “Moreover, the LORD your God will circumcise your heart … to love the LORD your God with all your heart and all your soul, so that you may live … for the LORD will again rejoice over you for good … if you obey the LORD your God … if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and soul” (vv. 6, 9-10). I love the idea that when your heart is right with God, He will “rejoice over you for good”! Paul wrote that the circumcision of the heart is “by the Spirit, not by the letter” (Rom. 2:29). The Holy Spirit will lead you to love God with all your heart. “The love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom. 5:5).
Moses spoke of the role of the heart in following God’s word: “The word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may follow it” (v.14). Paul quoted Deuteronomy 30:14 and related it to salvation: “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9).
“Just follow your heart” can be bad advice if you heart is not centered on God! “But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but allow yourself to be led astray and you worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you will certainly perish.” (30:17-18).
A prophet would later say to King Asa: “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (2 Chron. 16:9, NIV).
– Al Gary
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