It has been well said that, “A Bible in hand is worth two on the shelf.” Of course, that is just a way of saying it is not merely owning a Bible that helps us, but it is using the Bible that actually blesses us. For example, Psalms 119:11 says: “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” The value of God’s word is not unlocked by having a copy of the Bible somewhere. It is profitable to us when we get it into our hearts. Intellectual knowledge in and of itself will not make one closer to God, nor will it keep one from sin. There is a difference between having the word in the head, and having it in the heart!

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That reminds me of the saying about using a pen or pencil to make notes or mark certain verses in the Bible: “It is good to mark your Bible, but it is better to let your Bible mark you.” The way we let the Bible “mark” us is by writing it upon our hearts. Hebrews 8:10, says: “I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts…” You see, God’s Word in our heart gives us some fortification and preparation when the time of temptation comes.

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Friend, it’s not enough to just own a Bible if you do not read and study the Bible. Neither is it enough to study the Bible if you do not apply God’s word to your own life. So, please remember, you must put God’s word into your heart and mind on the inside, then live it out on the outside. As someone once cleverly said: “The best thing to do with the Bible is to KNOW it in the head, STOW it in the heart, SOW it in the world, and SHOW it in the life.” Think on these things.

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Dennis Abernathy