“There are four things we ought to do with the Word of God – admit is as the Word of God, commit it to our hearts and minds, submit to it, and transmit it to the world.”
This statement (emphasis added) is by William Wilberforce, remembered as the English politician who led the movement for the abolition of slavery. These four actions are paramount for growing in holiness, and we cannot grow if God’s desires are not nourishing our soul. Several verses from Keep on Track can relate to Wilberforce’s four aspects of what do with the Word of God.
Admit: “All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be fully equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV). The holy, mighty God necessitates being honored. How substantial do we really believe the Word of God to be? Does our verbal acknowledgment of its worth translate to the studying of it because of its worth? If not, we ought to take time to consider why that may be and assess our heart’s desire.
Commit: “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4 ESV). Taking great pleasure in the LORD includes the words he has spoken. As we delight in them, we desire them and cling to them, committing them to our hearts and minds. This is reminiscent of what God told the children of Israel to do: hold his commands in their hearts, impress them on their children’s minds, talk about his commands, and be intentional with remembering them (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).
Submit: “Therefore, I urge you brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1 NIV). When we contemplate how God mercifully rescued us from the bondage of sin, through Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection, it should stir in us a desire to submit to him, therefore his Word. We ought to yield to his ways and show our gratitude by living for him and in communion with him.
Transmit: “Remain in me as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” (John 15:4 NIV). Remaining in Jesus allows the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, being rooted in Christ and nourished by his truths. As the Holy Spirit produces godly fruit in our lives, we reflect Jesus to others.
Memorizing God’s words will help us admit it, commit it, submit to it, and transmit it!