"...I have hidden in my heart..."
Isaiah writes on behalf of the Lord:
""Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, You who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, And to the hole of the pit from which you were dug." Isaiah 51:1
""Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, You people in whose heart is My law: Do not fear the reproach of men, Nor be afraid of their insults." Isaiah 51:7
He writes to those who follow after and know righteousness. But what is righteousness?
The plumb line of righteousness is defined by the law of God. In the New Testament, righteousness is also revealed in how we live and relate to others. Whether we read the Old Testament or the New, one thing remains true: righteousness cannot be earned. It is received by trusting in Christ and His sacrifice. His righteousness is placed upon us by grace alone.
Yet drawing near to Jesus and following after Him produces righteous fruit in our lives. But we must seek Him with all our hearts.
The psalmist writes: "Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You." Psalms 119:11
Loving God and loving others begins with seeking Him and allowing His Word to penetrate our hearts.
So let me ask you: Are you spending time in His Word? Are you spending time quietly before the Lord?
Because what we fill our hearts with, and who we spend our time with, will eventually flow out of us and into the lives of others.
What is flowing out of you?
If you want to live righteously, love others well, and reflect Jesus to the world, then you must be intentional about what you are hiding in your heart.
Choose wisely. Seek Him deeply. Hide His Word in your heart.
-To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.