Wednesday, July 13, 2022

 

WISDOM WEDNESDAY

Vol. 1 Issue 14 - 7-13-22

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

- II Peter 3:18

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Greetings Church,

In the last issue I referenced a habit of mine that I recite Scripture when I go to bed. My predominant passage is Colossians 3:1-4, "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." This along with all of Ephesians 2 are my favorite passages of Scripture.

I share this with you as an encouragement to memorize Scripture and secondly to begin a small exposition of the Colossians passage. In this issue we will focus upon the need for memorization and its vital importance to our walk with the Lord. Then in subsequent issues we will expound the passage and draw some significant points of application to our lives in Christ.

The value of Bible memorization is multifaceted. In Colossians 3:16, Paul states, "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 thanksgiving in your hearts to God." Here we find the foundation being set for our lives together in the church, the called out ones. We cannot effectively teach, admonish, sing or give thanks if the Word is not dwelling in us. Not only are we to pursue its indwelling but it is qualified that we do so in the richness of the Word. Without letting the word of Christ dwelling in us richly we will become impoverished and weak in our walk with the Lord. We will find our hearts developing spiritual heart disease as we strive to accomplish heavenly things with earthly works. It is a very real and present danger for us to forget the Word in the dailiness of our lives.

The Psalmist in Psalm 119 approaches Scripture memory by posing a question first. In Psalm 119:9 we read, "How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word." Here again we see the necessary of Scripture memory and knowledge so that we can guard our hearts against sin and impurity. I am reminded of a quote on my Face Book page from Martyn Lloyd-Jones, "The great concern of the New Testament Epistles is not about the size of the church. It is about the purity of the church." What fitting reminder for us to contemplate when most Bible churches are just as biblically illiterate as the world. Guarding one's heart and keeping pure is the outcome of the Word that is living and active in our lives.

Just two verses later the Psalmist writes, "I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." (Ps. 119:11 ESV) In the NIV it says, "I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." (Ps. 119:11) In the NASB it says, "Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You." (Ps. 119:11) Let's draw so insights from each of these translations of the same verse. We see the words stored, hidden, and treasured in reference to the act of memorization. Each of these words help us understand the great value of Bible memorization. To store suggests that we are keeping the word at the ready to be used. To be ready in season and out of season. To hide suggests that we long to protect it in our hearts in such a way that its protection is constantly at work in our lives. To treasure suggests that we place great value upon the Word and thus want to have it in our hearts because of its work upon our hearts. Each of these words help us to see that Bible memorization is not just a discipline to be pursued but a practice that will bring about change.

In the second half of these passages we find the outcome or result of storing, hiding, and treasuring. That result is that I might not sin against God in the ESV and the NIV. In the NASB, it says may not. The expectation is that as we memorize Scripture we will see its impact upon our daily lives in Christ and our bent toward sin will be growing smaller and smaller. The practice is not to be just to be about our brain but our heart or soul, the fullness of our being. We are to let the Word of God so touch and transform us that we will see the wonder of Christ in it and long to have it be in the very fabric of our lives.

As we consider the memorization of Scripture the natural excuse is to say, "I can't memorize anything." I would beg to differ. Do you remember the names of your children, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, grandparents, neighbors, and classmates? How did you come to know these names, but through repetition and more repetition. Thus the practice of Bible memorization is two fold. First, taking a particular passage and reading it over and over again until you have it seared into your memory. The second is the reading of God's Word daily, multiple times a day. This habit will give you the broader experience of first remembering where in general you have read something and then over time you will be able to remember the specifics. So, we find our hearts longing for the Word and thus find ourselves without much effort memorizing the Word and bringing daily application to our lives. As I have said many times, "We are to have a read Bible."

May the Lord richly bless and expand your efforts in memorization by being daily in the Word.

Blessings,

PBS

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