Showing posts with label Scripture Memorization. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scripture Memorization. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Unchained!

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.
2 Timothy 2:8-9


God's Word cannot be chained! 

Many have tried for centuries to stop the spread of the Bible. God's Word has been banned, burned, and outlawed. It has been ridiculed and disparaged. Those who oppose it have claimed that it is full of lies and that only weak-minded people need it to prop up their fragile egos. But still the Word of God speaks! Despite all their effort, it has not been silenced and it never will be.

In Isaiah 55:11 God promises, "the word that goes out from my mouth... will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." God's Word cannot be chained because it will not be thwarted!

Even if they succeeded in confiscating every copy of the Word and locking up every believer who was bold enough to preach the gospel; even still God's Word would not be silenced. God would find a way. Because at the back of God's Word stands the omnipotent power of God Himself! Behind the words printed on the page is God's Spirit at work. He uses the human phrases, the everyday illustrations and the metaphors to breathe new life into dead hearts. I Peter 1:23 reminds us that it was the Word of God that gave us new birth. "For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God."

We must never forget that there is supernatural power in the Word of God. Learn it, so you can use it to battle your doubts and temptations. Read it to your kids every day to plant the seed of faith in their lives. Speak it to your brothers and sisters in Christ to strengthen and encourage them in their faith. And memorize it so you can speak it to your lost friends. Invest your time and energy in God's Word and it will bring a harvest.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

It's Time to Dust Off an Old Spiritual Discipline

With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes!
Psalm 119:10-12 (ESV)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16 (ESV)


Today I want to challenge you (and myself) to practice a long lost form of spiritual discipline that Christians rarely do anymore. (I am ashamed to say it has been a while since I have done it.) Let's memorize some Scripture! Before we start though, allow me just a few words in the two beautiful passages above.

There are many benefits to Scripture memorization. The psalmist highlights it as a means of avoiding sin. If we memorize God's commands, then we can avoid unknowingly transgressing against them. Storing up Scripture in his heart is a way for the psalmist to show his whole-hearted devotion to seeking the Lord. It's fitting that Psalm 119:11 should be considered the well spring of the spiritual discipline of Scripture memory because this chapter is not only the Bible's longest at 176 verses but is also one long acrostic poem dedicated to the goodness of God's Word. Colossians draws out a different benefit of committing the Word to memory. The believer should let the word or message of Christ dwell in her richly so that she can teach and admonish other believers, even by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs containing the same truths. I contend that there's no better way of letting Jesus' message dwell in us richly than for us to roll it around in our minds day after day until it is committed to memory. So what are we waiting for!

I suggest that you memorize any or all of following passages of Scripture:
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment."
Matthew 22:37 (NIV)
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it."
Luke 9:23-24 (NIV)
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
Lamentations 3:21-24 (NIV)
Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.
Psalm 127:1-2 (NIV)
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
Psalm 145:8-9 (NIV)

For further help consider the following:

  • Write a verse that is meaningful to you on your mirror so you'll see it automatically every day.
  • Write the passage out on a note card and carry it with you. Then you can work on memorization wherever you may be. Waiting in line at the store or waiting for a meeting to start at work.
  •  Say the verse out loud repeatedly. Hearing it will help you memorize it.