“…DO NOT FORGET…BUT LET YOUR HEART KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS…”

God desires to redeem the fallen human being – John 3:16. God calls all who heed to the call of God, His children – John 1:12-13. All God’s children are heirs in His kingdom – Romans 8:17. All such called out people of God are the seed of the promise made to Abraham – Galatians 3:26-29.

Now, all the children of God are expected to obey their FATHER, the LORD God Almighty, our Redeemer. For obedience to the words of the FATHER is, a sign of our adoption and our present position. This is why the Word of God exhorts us…
– “​1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, 2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.” – Proverbs 3:1-2 

There are some very important lessons that we can learn from the above verse – 1- OUR RESPONSIBILITY; 2- OUR OBEDIENCE; 3- OUR BLESSINGS. We will also look at another critical aspect of Christian faith and walk, as the fourth lesson – 4- THE EPILOGUE. Let us explore them.

1- OUR RESPONSIBILITY – “…do not forget my teaching…”
First and foremost, as the children of God, we are called to remember the teachings of the LORD our God, as written in the Bible. The Word of God is the primary source given to us, for our enlightenment, edification and empowerment. Therefore, we are to read it, remember it, and meditate upon it, night and day.
– “7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” – Joshua 1:7-8

2- OUR OBEDIENCE – “…but let your heart keep my commandments…”
We, as the children of God, are called, not only to remember all what the LORD had commanded us, but also to follow it up with our obedience. It is worthless if we merely hear the words of God, and not want to obey them. Therefore, obedience to the commands of God is, a clear indication of all what has happened in our hearts.
– “22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” – James 1:22-25

3- OUR BLESSINGS – “…for length of days…years of life and peace they will add to you”
When we read, remember and obey all the commandments of the LORD, then the blessings of God will pour upon us. The key to such blessings is, our obedience to all what the LORD is commanding us. Blessings are not to be found anywhere else, nor in any other way, except our obedience to the LORD.
– “16 If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.” – Deuteronomy 30:16

4- THE EPILOGUE – “…a righteous man may fall seven times…”
As children of God, desiring to walk in all His ways, there will be times when we fail. We fail not so much because we lack in desire to obey the LORD, but have given in to the temptation. The LORD understands that we are but weaklings. However, this does not mean that God condones and accepts such behaviour. Therefore, to help us in our weakness, and our inability, He made a provision, so that our sin may be forgiven, and help us to get up, dust ourselves and continue to walk in the way of our LORD. This provision is not for us to continue in sin, but a way out of the mess, we put ourselves into.
– “16 For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity.” – Proverbs 24:16
– “23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand.” – Psalm 37:23-24
– “​1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?…15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!…12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” – Romans 6:1-2, 15, 12-14

Let us not forget the following words, but remember them always – *”…DO NOT FORGET…BUT LET YOUR HEART KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS…”* Even so, the LORD help us.