One Thing--HOW (pt. 3)

2. Retain

The second step in having God’s word abide in you is to retain (keep) it in your heart.

Prov 4:1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. ²For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. ³For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. ⁴He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. ⁵Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. ⁶Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. ⁷Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. ⁸Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. ⁹She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. ¹⁰Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. ¹¹I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. ¹²When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. ¹³Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

This is what most people call memorizing.

2Pet 1:12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. ¹³Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; ¹⁴Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. ¹⁵Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

Fill in the blanks with the word(s) from the verses (below) that show how to retain God’s word.

●               ________: Psalm 119:11	●               ________: Proverbs 3:3
●               ________: Proverbs 3:1	●               _____________: Prov 3:3
●               _____________: Prov 3:1	●               ________: Proverbs 3:3
●               ____________: Prov 3:21	●               ____________: Prov 4:13
●               ____________: Prov 6:20	●               ____________: Deut 11:18
●               ________: Proverbs 6:20	●               ____________: Col 3:16

This is how you make sure God’s word doesn’t just go in one ear and out the other. The goal is to have God’s word “handy” (in your heart) for instant use whether or not you have a Bible in your hand. Only then are you ready to “teach and admonish” others. But notice that it must dwell “richly” in your heart. In other words, you must have more than you need for your own personal use so you will have some left over for others.

Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.