👑 The King is coming soon – Hope beyond the end
📅 January 20 – The Character of God and the Law
Monthly theme: The Blessed Hope – Living in Expectation
Theme for 2026: “Soon the King Is Coming – Hope Beyond the End”
📖 Central Bible Text of the Day
“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments;
and His commandments are not burdensome.”
— 1 John 5:3
🌅 Devotional of the Day
Many people see God’s law as a restriction,
but in truth it is the revelation of His character.
The law is not a cold regulation,
but the expression of divine love—
a description of who God is.
“For I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious,
patient and abounding in goodness and faithfulness.” — Exodus 34:6
When God showed Moses His glory,
He also revealed the foundation of His law:
mercy, justice, faithfulness, love.
The law does not show us how to save ourselves,
but how the redeemed live.
Ellen G. White wrote:
“The law of God is a transcript of His character.
It is the expression of His love, the divine harmony
that governs the universe.
Obedience to this law means life and peace.”
(The Great Controversy, p. 467)
✨ The Law – A Mirror of Love
“For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, namely:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” — Galatians 5:14
The law reveals love—vertically toward God, horizontally toward people.
The first four commandments show how we love God,
the last six how we love one another.
In Christ we see both lines united:
perfect love for God and for humanity.
Ellen White explains:
“The law of the Ten Commandments was not abolished,
but exalted by Christ.
In His life it was shown that the law is founded on love
and can be kept only in a heart filled with love.”
(The Desire of Ages, p. 466)
Therefore Jesus said:
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.” — John 14:15
Obedience is not the condition of love,
but its natural fruit.
🌿 The Law in the Heart
“I will put My law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.” — Jeremiah 31:33
The gospel and the law are not opposites.
Through the grace of Christ, the law
is written not on tablets of stone, but on hearts.
Thus it becomes a joy, not a burden.
Ellen White wrote:
“When the law is written in the heart,
the human being becomes one with God.
His thoughts are in harmony with God’s will,
and his life becomes a reflection of the divine character.”
(Steps to Christ, p. 63)
The true Christian does not live by the letter,
but by the Spirit of love.
He obeys because he loves.
🕊️ The Law in Eternity
God’s law is eternal,
because it is the expression of an eternal character.
It will also exist in the new earth—
not as a set of rules, but as a principle of life.
“Great peace have those who love Your law,
and nothing causes them to stumble.” — Psalm 119:165
Ellen White describes:
“The law that sounded from Sinai
will also be the order of life in the new earth.
Love for God and for humanity will govern the life of the redeemed there.”
(The Great Controversy, p. 678)
Those who love God’s law now
will one day live in perfect harmony with Him—forever.
🙏 Prayer
Heavenly Father,
thank You that Your law is love.
Teach me to love You
so that Your will becomes my joy.
Write Your law in my heart,
so that I may obey You out of conviction and not out of compulsion.
Let my life be a testimony of Your righteousness and goodness
until Your kingdom comes.
Amen.
💭 Thought for the Day
“God’s law is not coercion, but freedom.
Whoever lives in love
lives in the perfect harmony of the divine law.”
— Ellen G. White, Maranatha, p. 366
💡 Personal Application
-
Read Psalm 19:8–12 and John 14:15–21.
Ask yourself: How does my life reflect God’s character? -
Pray: “Lord, write Your law in my heart.”
-
Practical:
Act consciously in love today,
even if it costs you something.
That is the true keeping of the law.
🌺 Closing Verse
“Love does no harm to a neighbor;
therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” — Romans 13:10
