Memorizing Scripture
Now I have finally begun memorizing verses of the Bible regularly. Two verses a week is my current goal and this is the two first from the past week. I´m memorizing them in Swedish but posting them in English.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." - 2 Ti 3:16-17
This is one of my absolute favorites in all Scripture. I can´t begin to explain the depths of spiritual meaning and importance these verses has to me and for you. It brings to the Bible student a whole new and deeper experience and lays out the groundwork and most basic principle of all Bible studies. In these verses we also find the most staggering claim that all the scripture is inspired by God. That means all and not just the part I like to study or the principles I personally like to follow. And we also find the motivation to why we are to study all the inspired Scriptures of God. The answer given us; so "That the man of God may be perfect," (2 Ti 3:17) and "throughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Ti 3:17).
We are to study the entire Bible so that we can be perfect and ready to do all good works. Notice please! Not just the
good works we wish to do or the ones we are at ease to do, but rather all good works.
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." - Eph 2:10
The Bible is so beautiful I can´t stand it! Notice please that God already have ordained the good works we are to do! How can that be, were do we find those good works we are ordained to walk in?
"If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit." - Lev 26:3-4
"Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him." - Deu 8:6
"And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?" - Deu 10:12-13
"This day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice:" - Deu 26-16-17
"The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways." - Deu 28:9
"And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:" - 1 King 2:3
"And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it." - 2 Jn 1:6
The good works God already have ordained for us to do in Christ Jesus is the good works of following His perfect law and will out of love to God and our fellow men. It´s as simple as that, if we love God we will do His will as revealed to us through the law and the prophets. Therefore, to not do according to the law and the prophets are to not love the one who gave the law and inspired the prophets. The Lord wants to make of us a peculiar people that are following His way and His judgments, not the judgments of the world or our own.
"In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity," - Tit 2:7
"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:" - Heb 10:24
We are to be examples for others to follow. We are to be the light of this world showing everybody that obedience to God is liberty from sin! This we are only able to do with a sincere heart and with love. This is the good works Jesus wants us to practice.
"Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." - 1 Pet 2:12
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." - Matt 5:16
Again and again this principle and this line of thought are repeated throughout the Scriptures. Here we find another reason to why we are to do the will of the Lord walking in His law. We see that our actions in obedience to the law will glorify God the Father. What joy we should feel having the privilege to actually glorify the Creator, our God the Lord Jehovah! The thought is baffling and hard to even grasp. We created and fallen humans are able to glorify the Father in heaven. And all we have to do is to follow His revealed will and path of good works to walk in. Doesn´t this truth bring tears to your eyes also? This has brought me a solemn understanding of what importance the will and path of God really has for me.
Notice please what this verse also says about what the Scriptures dose for us.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" - 2 Ti 3:16
The Scriptures, law, the prophets and the testimonies, gives us good doctrines of belief and good principle to act or walk after. They are also good for reproof. Now that's a hard one. Not many, even among the most solid of Bible believing Christians, today are at ease with having their actions, decisions and behavior being reproved by the Scriptures. Seldom have those that are walking in their own path wanted to hear of what they are doing in contrast to the will of the Lord. But that's actually one of the reasons why we have the Scriptures and one of the requirements for being perfect and furnished to do all good works. Moreover the Scriptures are to correct us, they are to make right what we have done wrong. This is one of the most fascinating and wondrous things with the will of God. He does not simply tell us what are good or bad for us but He also tells us what to do if we by any chance should transgress His law. He makes know to us how we can correct our way and our life to bring it back into harmony with His will. And of course, the Scriptures instruct us to what righteousness is and what righteousness is not. "Is this the righteous thing to do?" We should ask ourselves, and the answer lies in the law, prophets and the testimonies.
Now, as always, I have managed to write much more than originally intended. And I could go on and on for ages. That's why I don't write so often, because I know I will get stuck. But I guess a break from the everyday routine should be welcomed. So I will move on to the next part of Scripture I have memorized during the week.
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." - Matt 11:28-30
This part of Scripture have much similarity with the previously one. What´s the burden of every man and woman? I know my burden is my past and present sins. And my attempts to walk in the statues and commandments of the Lord. When heavy laden with my path I bring this verse back to memory and look up. And there He is. My Savior and Redeemer! Right before me on the narrow path He stands, urging me on and calling me with that tender and lovingly voice that first called me out of Egypt and Babylon unto this narrow and straight path throw the wilderness of this earthly and forsaken desert. "Take my yoke upon you" He says, and I look up at the enormous burdens I already have on my back. I look at the chains around my arms and feet dragging me down making every step one of toil and hardship. I look at the chains piercing my flesh making my carnal mind and body scream with every step on the way from Egypt. And I call out; "Lord, how am I supposed to take your yoke also when I´m perishing from my own?". "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your soul" He calls back. My mind wanders, and I remember that Christ had no own burden for He bore the burdens of all the inhabitants of the earth. And yet He was meek and lovely in heart, He didn't crumble or fall to the ground. From His life and present that stream of life was always gushing forth biding all to come and drink of the water of life. How come? I asked myself. How did He make it? He was born by a woman and grew up on this earth just as I did. How did He make it?! And then I remember and I look up again. The Lamb of God holding His hands out calling for me. And I could see the difference between us. I see His pierced hands and remembered, Christ loved not His live unto death. Thou He was chosen from above, thou He was the Messiah of old, thou He had the rights of the eternal God Jehovah. He left it all and chose to die for me instead. The different was love. The love of self-denial and that of sacrifice. His only desire was to do the will of the Father despite what it was and how hard it was to do it. "The truth shall set you free", and the "law is the truth" rings throw my head (Joh 8:32, Psa 119:142). "I am meek and lowly in heart and my yoke is easy, take it upon you" the Savior again bids me. And suddenly the chains drop from my hands and feet. I take upon my shoulders the yoke of Christ and I feel the love of others replacing the love of self. Suddenly I see others in the desert, others that have fallen under their heavy burdens. And my attention is drawn to those how have lost their way along the pursuit of everlasting communion with Christ. The yoke of Christ, the yoke of love to God and love to man, is not heavy.
That's what this part of Scripture dose for me. It speaks to me of the total commitment Jesus had to the will of the Father. The love and tender mercies He had for us in following not His own desires but rather that of our heavenly Father. It speaks to me making void all excuses for not giving heed to the law and the prophets. And it grants me love and meekness in heart to obey and pledge my allegiance to my Father, not loving my own life unto death.
Remember to not just memorize Scripture for the sake of memorizing only. Don't learn to cite Scripture, learn how to live it. Learn how to apply it in all aspects of your life. Hide the Word not in your mind, hid it in your hearth (Psa 119:11).
This little string of words can help you remember and deepen your memorizing experience.
"Who tells why this verse is important for me?" "Vem förmedlar varför versen är viktig för mig?"
•1. "Who tells" the verse? To who is the verse told?
•2. What is the person trying to "tell"?
•3. "Why" does the person tell this?
•4. "This verse" memorizes the verse.
•5. "Important for me", why is this verse important for me?
I wish you good luck with your memorizing and I hope you are doing it in the right spirit for the right reasons. Remember, in the heart not the mind, let the Holy Spirit write it upon your heart and apply it practically in your life.
Then we all can join in the song of the psalmist as we walk through this desert day by day camping closer and closer to the land of Canaan.
"ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly." - Psa 119:1-8
Amen.
May God keep you and bless you.
