08/27/2020
Do we keep the Word of the Lord fresh in our minds? Do we remember what He has commanded us to do so that we will not fall into sin? It is so easy to walk rather innocently into a sinful situation if we follow after our own whims, or lean on our own understanding. In order that we remain on the path of righteousness we must have a roadmap, or directions for our journey, and remember which way to turn when we encounter various crossroads. Do we diligently study the map of faith?
“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
Psalm 119:11 ESV
When we first come to know the Lord we are hungry for His Word, and we pant after the gospel of Jesus, but over time we are tempted by complacency, and the routine work of religion, to do more and study less. When this occurs, those things we once knew so perfectly can become like distant memories. Are there things in your everyday life that you once knew, but have been diminished, or erased by inattention, and the passage of time? Well, our memories can be suspect, and fade away without constant refreshment, and attention. As people we know this about ourselves, and God understands it as well.
“then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”
Deuteronomy 6:12 ESV
My home has a basement, and when we first moved in I built shelving there to hold the boxes of things that we used in our old house, but had decided we didn’t need right away. At first I remembered what was in each box, but as time went by, my memory of what was in them faded away. Now I look at those boxes and the task of going through them again overwhelms me, but I can’t just discard them because I know that there are treasures stored there. The Word of God is much like this. We read and study the Word, but if there is some treasure that we know is important, yet we don’t need at the moment, we tuck it away... where often times it is forgotten... or at least becomes harder to recall.
“Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it.”
1 Corinthians 15:1 NLT
So how do we reassure ourselves that the Word of God which we depend so absolutely on will not fade from our memory, or escape us? Well we Pray, lean on the Holy Spirit, read and reread scripture, and when we face problems we search the Word through the use of study bibles, commentaries, devotionals, and other biblical aids that can help lead us back to those verses we once recalled so easily.
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
John 14:26 ESV
The greatest aid therefore is to remain in God’s Word by praying it, studying it, and not placing our day to day religion before it. God’s Word, and the gospel of Jesus Christ are foundational to our belief... never to be treated as accessories to faith. Lest we forget, or trivialize, we should keep this passage of scripture before us at all times...
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John 1:1-5 ESV
So we should do these things to keep God’s Word fresh in our minds, and never lose sight of how important this is to not only teaching us about our faith, but securing us in righteousness, and defending us against sin.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Holy Word that secures us in you, and gives us our firm foundation in the faith we seek in your Son Jesus. Thank you Lord for your Holy Spirit who brings us understanding, and a remembrance of your Word. Teach us to place your Word above those all the routine works of religion that we are tempted to place importance in. The Word is you Father, and nothing comes before you. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who enters us, and increases us by your presence... your Word. Praised be your name for every revelation of who you are, and each new understanding we receive by your guidance. Merciful, and full of grace are you because your Word tells us so. Wonderful is your Son Jesus our Savior because your Word prophesied Him, and your Word says you sent Him to redeem us. Help us Lord so that your Word will be fresh in us always, and made to serve us throughout eternity.
Rich Forbes