Value of Memorizing Scripture: Part Two

In my last post I summarized a few quick points about the value of Scripture Memory, laying out three categories of relationships where a knowledge of God's Word helps us. The truth is, all three of these categories (vertical, horizontal, and inward) are inter-related, but we can say some distinctive things about each relationship. Today I will start with the vertical relationship.

How does memorizing Scripture help our relationship with God?

This hopefully is obvious and redundant to any believer, but it cannot be said enough: The Bible is God's Word. A less redundant concept that is lacking today: To know God, you must know the Word. If you do not know the Word, you do not know God. We may learn certain subjective things about God through nature or our experiences, or objective facts about God told in the Bible may be confirmed in other ways, but God is not ultimately known through searching *deep* inside yourself or going on some kind of processing journey.

The Value of Scripture Memory

"What if I offered you $1000 for every verse you could memorize in the next seven days? Do you think your attitude toward Scripture memory and your ability to memorize would improve? Any financial reward would be minimal when compared to the accumulating value of the treasure of God's Word deposited within your mind."

Donald Whitney introduces the section on Scripture Memory in his now standard book, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, with this financial illustration to encourage Christians to memorize Scripture. I think Whitney could have used the same illustration for nearly every other Christian practice and discipline, but it works especially well for Scripture memory because I can think of very few "bad" ways to memorize a verse, other than objectively not memorizing a phrase correctly or by memorizing a verse with the wrong attitude and motive, but those are topics for another time. I started to address the topic of improper, or rather, inadequate memory habits earlier on this site and perhaps will get back to that soon. Fortunately, in a few weeks I am set to give a short seminar at my church's youth retreat on Scripture Memory, so you may be seeing several more posts here about it!

For today, I want to summarize the main benefits that Whitney proposes for memorizing God's Word. I have organized his points into three categories: our vertical relationship with God, our horizontal relationship with others, and our inner relationship with the devil and our sinful flesh.

Memorization Helps our Relationship with God
Knowing Scripture can strengthen our faith. When we come upon times of struggle or weakness, we should turn to God and his promises of faithfulness. More often than not, we do not have a concordance or a John MacArthur standing next to us who can point us directly to the verse we need (and we may not even have a Bible readily accessible). "Memorizing Scripture strengthens your faith because it repeatedly reinforces the truth, often just when you need to hear it again."

In the same light, knowing the Bible in our hearts can push toward meditation and further study of the Word. Like a tune that gets stuck in your head, if you have memorized Scripture then you will be continually be reminded of these verses and they will force you to consider and apply their Truth.

Memorization Helps our Relationship with Others
The most tangible use of Scripture is in witnessing or counseling to those around us. If we claim to be followers and disciples of Christ, then we should always be telling others about God's very Word, and perhaps the most effective way to do so is by having it memorized. It is always a joy for me to be in casual conversation with someone else, and to be able to interject Scripture that comes to mind. The fewer portions of Scripture I know, then obviously the fewer I can talk about!

Memorization Helps our Inner Battle
One of the interesting things we learn from Matthew 4 is that Satan uses God's Word in a superficial and twisted way to deceive (see also: Genesis 3, Job 1), while Christ battles and defeats Satan with God's Word correctly (sidebar: there's a bigger point to this passage about Christ's victory on behalf of us, but that's another blog series!). Meanwhile, over in Ephesians 6, Paul tells us to put on God's armor, including Scripture, so that we may be equipped to stand against spiritual battles. 2 Timothy 3:16 says point-blank that the Bible tells us about doctrine and trains us in righteousness. To escape from sin, we must flee to the words found in Scripture.

One benefit Whitney mentions that may overlap between these categories is that memorization can help to guide us. The Holy Spirit is promised to be a Counselor and an Advocate for us, but how does that happen? John 14:26 tells us: But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Jesus is specifically talking about the creation of the books of the New Testament, but I think he is also making an application for us, that the Holy Spirit will work to impress upon us passages from Scripture as a Helper for us.


The benefits of memorizing Scripture are about as numerous as the amount of methods published on how to memorize Scripture. I have only given a few of the points here, and they are a tiny introduction. Hopefully we will be able to elaborate on these categories of why we memorize. But for now, I pray this encourages you to get in God's Word, to know Christ and the power of His resurrection more intimately. Take to heart the words of Proverbs 22:17-19:

    Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise,
        and apply your heart to my knowledge,
    for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
        if all of them are ready on your lips.
    That your trust may be in the LORD,
        I have made them known to you today, even to you.

Is Christ the Lord, or is He your Manager?

The LORD is my manager;
I’m equipped with what I need to be successful.
He makes sure I have enough to eat and drink,
And that I’m not too stressed out.
He gives me what I need to get by;
He communicates good advice
so I can keep him satisfied with my progress.

I came across this excellently-written "Semi-Psalm 23," and the ironic realities gripped me. I go through life doing nearly everything on my own. I'm pretty smart, I have decent means to get through life. I give lip-service to what Christ provides for me but little more.

But when the darkness closes in and I feel half-dead,
I’m frightened by all the pain that grips me,
Because you seem so far away from me,
And your distant management of my life leaves me alone and afraid.


I have not known any real hardship. I have tried hard to rest content with what I have, and I really have never been in a place where I didn't know how I was going to eat or whether or not I would be provided for. Yet, somehow I still let the pressures, the stress, the distraction of this life overtake my inner emotions and I let Christ become a fading distance. Sometimes out of guilt or shame, sometimes out of fear, I run into myself instead of to the riches of Christ.

You do let me help myself to the leftovers from your table,
Which I suppose is better than what my enemies get.
You acknowledge my presence at dinner,
And you let me pour a little wine into my cup.
I guess I have an adequate and decent life most of the time,
And I can always stay at the LORD’s house for a few days if I ever feel the need.

Obviously the writer of this poem was making a satire off Psalm 23, where God is our great Shepherd leading us where we need to go even in times of suffering. I think another passage in the Bible can unlock the truth of how Christ relates to us. Instead of the lackadaisical approach to Christ portrayed here, consider the precious words of Colossians:

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

…The riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

Our local church is just beginning a study into this wonderful book about Christ and his Lordship over us. I am excited to study again the greatness of who Christ is and what He has accomplished in my life. I pray it is a time of renewal and revived focus on making great the name of Jesus and no longer trying to rely on our own strength.


    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.

Pray for Denver!

Dear Friends,

You are probably landing here because you have had some connection to my life over the years. Hopefully I have been a blessing in your life, but assuredly many that I will direct here have encouraged me and shown me great love over the years. I don’t use this page very much, but I’d like to use the opportunity to ask you to pray for my wife Lauren and I in the next few weeks.

We have been students at Southeastern Baptist Seminary since January of this year. It has been nothing short of incredible to see how God has used this, so far short, season of our lives to mold us, shape us, and broaden our perspective of His glory. Every class lecture, every homework assignment, every conversation with other students and professors has both increased our knowledge of theology and the Bible and our love and praise to God. Beyond that, every step we make has taken us directly into a challenge for discipleship, for increased holiness, for a bolder witness, for more and more crafting into the image of God as we seek to imitate Him (Eph 5:1). Nearly every church we have stepped into, especially including the church we now serve and have joined, has been a guidepost and sending point for God’s glorious gospel, a bold proclamation of Jesus’ sacrifice to atone for our sins.

As we have joined along this community, we have prayerfully decided to go intentionally on mission with the Seminary on a trip to Denver during October 1-8. As the final few days of preparation go on, I’d like to lift up a few prayer requests for you.

1. Pray for the city of Denver and all those we will come into contact with in our time there. The city is largely unchurched, perhaps 99% non-evangelical.
2. Pray for the church we are working with, The Summit Church Denver, as they work to build disciples and reach the city for God (you may want to visit www.summitdenver.org to learn more about their work).
3. Lift up Lauren and I as we prepare and go. We need a sense of peace, joy, and most of all a trust and faith in God as we seek to follow Him in this trip.
4. I would also quote fully Paul’s prayer and challenge in Colossians 4:2-6:

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

We are very excited about going to Denver and we would love for you to be able to join alongside of us in support. If God leads you to give financially in the next week, this post is not to beg for money but I will not avoid directing you to http://sebts.edu/cgcs/mission-trips/ and mentioning you can click on the right-side button “Click Here to Give.”

Thank you for reading this post. I pray God blesses you in the coming days, to His glory.
In everything we give thanks to Jesus Christ, for surely
  
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

And for those who have trusted in Him, we praise God that

You, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven (Colossians 1:15-23)

May God also be with us as we join with the church in presenting this hope, the good news for all creation, to the city of Denver.