August 4

His Word Is Written on My Heart

They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts . . . their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them. This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets (Romans 2:15, 16).

Scripture: Romans 2:12-16

Song: “Thy Word”

Corey found a $10 bill on the school stairs and stuck it in his pocket. In class he overheard someone say he’d lost his money. Corey didn’t want to give it up, so he kept silent. He told himself that he hadn’t stolen anything and he hadn’t lied, so it was OK. But that night his conscience bothered him. He knew in his heart that what he’d done was wrong.

On that final day, our consciences will bear witness to our lives. Our thoughts and memories will sometimes accuse us, sometimes defend us, because deep down, we know what is right and wrong, don’t we? We know that things done against us hurt. So if we do the same thing to others, we know it’s wrong. We may try to subdue or ignore our consciences, or try to justify ourselves, but in the end, what God wants is written on our hearts.

But for those who are His, washed in His blood, judgment will be different. Jesus died for us—to save us from judgment. He will not look to which law we lived under, He will not search to see if we kept it perfectly. He will look at our hearts, to see if we are His and to judge how well we have used the spiritual gifts He’s given us. Then: reward or loss of reward (see 1 Corinthians 3:10-15).

Righteous Judge, I thank You for putting Your law in my heart. I pray that my conscience will be in agony until I repent of anything I have done wrong. In Christ, amen.