367. Established with Grace
Hebrews 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
It is a good thing that the heart is established with grace. And that is truly a wonderful promise. All men are in desperate need of an established heart. The heart needs to be solid and firmly established on a firm foundation. If the heart is sound, unshaken, and unmovable then everything in life works out well. All of life originates from the heart of a human being. We can tweak the outward behavior a little bit and maybe improve a couple of things in our life, but all our strongest efforts will be severely limited. We cannot basically change ourselves, and much less can we change another person. God does not tinker with the outward man, but the work of the Lord goes to the inside, to the heart, and works the change deep inside the spirit. Then the spirit works slowly to change the outward man over time. When we pray the Lord’s Prayer we are praying, “Lord, change me.” And He will, from the inside out.
The Law with all its rules ultimately changes nothing; nothing will happen to behavior unless the Gospel changes the heart. The heart is transformed when the sinner repents and believes the Gospel. This is Grace; grace establishes the heart, puts it on a solid footing, and gives the person a fresh start every day. When we start the day on the right foot every other step can be ordered by the Lord. And that would be a good thing. Jesus Christ is the solid rock, the firm foundation. Grace puts us solidly in that place.
Jesus said, “Out of the heart proceed murders, adulteries, etc., etc.” He says, “Go to the heart and let me change it.” Otherwise you have no hope. We are saved by grace; we are forgiven by grace; we are loved by grace; and we are changed by grace. We are not established with “meats,” which means, outward rituals, kosher foods, cleaning the outside of the cup, making proper sacrifices, keeping the Sabbath; and we can even add: going to church, saying your prayers, putting on a smile, and doing good works. Such things (“meats”) do not change the heart; the heart changes the behavior.
Furthermore, a person does not, and he cannot, establish the heart. Only God can; only Grace does. And that is the promise of the Gospel: God establishes the heart, and therefore, as a result, the life.