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Friday, May 20, 2005
I had a friend who was serious about memorizing Scripture when we were in college together. He spent a lot of time with a campus ministry that had a very structured method on how to learn the Word...it involved blank business card sized cards on which he wrote out the verses and carried them around for a week. He pulled them out periodically during the day and worked on them, and then he put them in this special blank business card size card holder. He reviewed them on Saturdays.
I didn't see much purpose in memorizing Scripture, frankly. Didn't have time for it. Didn't seem so important as long as I had my Bible with me...I could just look 'em up.
Until Chuck realized that was pretty much the attitude of our entire Bible study.
Chuck, our fearless leader, decided that not only was memorizing Scripture something we'd benefit from, but he had a whole 'nother theory on it: That it should be memorized IN CONTEXT...which, in reality, meant memorizing large chunks of it. Chuck was serious about it, too. We had two weeks to memorize all of Romans 6. That's right. All of Romans 6.
I have to admit that I did it sheerly from peer pressure. I didn't want to be the only one at Bible study of the due date and not have it done...so...I buckled down and did it.
It's peculiar, too...that I still remember much of it. And I don't even have a handy-dandy review box, either.
It's peculiar, too...that whenever my brain starts working towards being a bit too free with my grace-based lifestyle the first few veses pop into my brain. I'm guessing the Holy Spirit causes that to happen, too.
Makes the words "living and active" a bit more meaningful, too.
From Psalm 119: 9--12, "How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Thy word. With all my heart I have sought Thee; Do not let me wander from Thy commandments. Thy word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against Thee. Blessed art Thou, O Lord; Teach me Thy statutes."
How do we stay pure?
By keeping His words.
How do we avoid wandering?
By treasuring them IN OUR HEARTS.
Not by having the Bible close at hand, or by remembering the "gist" of something we read, but rather buyhaving it in our hearts.
I read somewhere that Jewish men in their culture went to extremes with this...something called phylacteries...little boxes that held tiny scrolls with verses on them strapped near their foreheads and hearts were prevalent fashion accessories.
What it means is that you allow God's word to penetrate your heart. It really is living and active and God-inspired and all that, and you'll be surprised at how simple that is.
For some of you, you'll respond very well to the structure and discipline my friend had.
For others of you, you'll do well by memorizing large chunks at a time.
Others might have your own method, like putting post-it notes all around the mirrors or refrigerators or car dashboards or doors in your home with the same verse on them.
However you do it, I'd encourage you to experiment and discover what is most effective for you and your schedule...
...and you'll be surprised how the Holy Spirit will pop those verses into your thought-life at appropriate times.
For today...what are the things that have kept you from consistent Scripture memory? How could some of those be overcome?
Brent 4:00 AM
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