A Christian school asked me to share a few words at a recent chapel service. It was a joy to mingle a bit with the students and witness their servant attitude, gracious hospitality, fervent spirit, and commitment to the Bible. From preschool through eighth grade, they were in the process of memorizing the entire chapter of Romans 8. Though a challenging project, many of them had already memorized the book of James. The school leaders obviously believe that children can memorize more than we think they can, and that it makes a bigger difference than we understand. Amen!
A man once jokingly said to me that the church suffers from a vitamin B deficiency, meaning, the Bible. Although funny, he was on to a serious truth. Christians do not just need to read the Bible, but to focus on its truth continually. Our growth as Christians is dependent upon nourishing our soul through the Bible. Consider for a moment the benefits of Scripture memory.
Memorizing Scriptures will guard your heart from sin. The Psalmist declared, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalms 119:11, NKJ). Putting the Word of God in your heart gives you instant access to God’s truth that counters the world’s lies. Temptation has a harder time taking root in a heart that is filled with God’s Word. Jesus responded to the devil’s temptation every time by quoting Scripture. The old adage is true: The Bible will either keep you from sin or sin will keep you from the Bible.
Memorizing Scripture will help you succeed in life.
The Lord said to Joshua, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8, NIV). The Bible is a treasure of wisdom for establishing a life of success. The Scripture teaches honesty, integrity, hard work ethic, and focus. George Washington once wisely declared, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”
Memorizing Scripture will spur your Christian growth. In fact, it would be difficult to nurture one’s soul in faith without reading and meditating on Scripture. Jesus stated, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4, NIV). The journey of a devoted follower of Jesus Christ demands frequent interaction with the Scripture. Peter encouraged, “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation” (I Peter 2:2, NLT).
Search out a new passage or verse today to commit to memory. Write it down on a card and put it up on your mirror or refrigerator. More than just reading it, memorize it, meditate on it, and put into practice.