Growth

6 Just in Time Reasons to Memorize Scripture

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6 Reasons

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105

A Moment in Time

The phone rang; a brief conversation ensued and then I was at my wits end. In fact internally I felt shattered. A deep sense of dread occupied  most of my core. I didn’t even trust myself to drive over familiar territory so I set the GPS. When my mind tried to comprehend what had happened and the outrageous pain and grief that lay on the horizon I could think of nothing. 

So I prayed “Oh God, this is too much.”

Then to the surface of my thoughts the Spirit of God brought this word, “The God of all comfort will come alongside you all.” And then I felt calm.

That “thought” is a fragment of a larger segment of the Bible that I had memorized years ago:

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.  2 Corinthians 1:3-4

The picture these words brought to my mind was shaped by the image of the “comforter,” the one who comes alongside and carries us when we cannot carry ourselves.

There was no time for me to go look it up. Because it was already there in my mind, “memorized,” The Spirit of God was able to access the word for me in the moment. It was just in time. Grace.

 The Illusion of No Need

Today memorizing the Bible might seem like the last thing you need to do. For those of us who have gone mobile we have it all with us. We don’t memorize phone numbers, directions, or math facts. The Bible has been wonderfully provided for us through The Bible App. so we have it with us all the time. Plus Google is fast! It is able to search for us when we don’t have the verse “address” and just know a phrase. Type it in and in moments we have a list of possibilities. So why memorize scripture?

Choose to Memorize God’s Word

Through the ages followers of Jesus have discovered the benefits of memorizing scripture. Dallas Willard said that of all the disciplines that support our life with Jesus if he was forced to choose one, he would choose Bible memorization. The Word of God, Scripture, informs and the Spirit of God transforms us through it that we might become like Jesus.

6 “Just in Time” Reasons to Memorize the Bible

1. Jesus on my mind. The Scripture keeps pointing us to Jesus and shaping us to be like him.

…from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.  2 Timothy 2:15-17

2. Truth in my meditation. The Scripture activates the formation of godly affections that can prevail when we are tempted.

14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.  Psalm 19:7-14

3And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”  Matthew 4:3-4

3. Grace. The Scripture reveals The Gospel of Jesus.

4But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:4-9

4. Wisdom from my mouth. In the battle for hearts and minds God’s Word is truth and grace shaping the words proceeding from my heart.

11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. 12Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.      Proverbs 25:11-12

15but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…  1 Peter 3:15

5. Correction for my way. The Scripture judges our beliefs, attitudes, and actions.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.   Hebrews 4:12

6. An eternal perspective. The Scripture keeps heaven and the larger story of God’s Kingdom large in our minds and therefore causes us to be of earthly good by reminding us what is going to last forever.

“22Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you. 1 Peter 1:22-25

Need some suggestions for verses to memorize? Here are two sets of verses available for viewing and reviewing on your mobile device.

My Resolution Dilemma Caused by the Gospel

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Live the Yes! 2014

20For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 21And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.  2 Corinthians 1:20-22

Dilemma: Goals or Resolutions or Not at all?

Some of my friends are resolved in 2014 to not make resolutions.  They make goals instead.  And then there’s the crowd that’s resolved not even to make a goal!  The benefit of setting goals is well-studied.  Make them, break them down, and set out on a path of improvement. I’m all for it.

The New Vision Created by The Gospel

But the Gospel does not begin with a vision of self-improvement. The Gospel begins with a vision of Jesus showing us who God is.  God does not start with a vision of making us better.  God starts with a vision of Jesus glorified in our lives and in all creation.  God’s word for us is not one of self-perfecting in order to gain presence and peace. His Word is life through His Son. So now even the promises of God find their “Yes,” their possibility, their fulfilment, in Jesus.

And now through Him we can say “Yes” or “Amen” for His glory with not just our mouth but also our very lives. He has made it possible through the work of the Cross and the gift of His Spirit. I believe the apostles were saturated with the Gospel reality expressed in 2 Corinthians 1:20-22.

For His Glory

So my dilemma. Its the New Year. Its time to declare my resolve and make some goals. The Gospel sets me on a path of growth, not in order “to get God to like me,” that would be religion. The Gospel sets me on a path of growth for the glory of Jesus in my life. Now my desire for each year is that somehow by His grace I would be like Jesus in character, attitude and action. Now I trust Him, that even in my weaknesses the greatness of Jesus will be displayed.

Goal: this speaks to my effort to achieve. I will make bite sized goals about every six to nine weeks.

Resolution: this speaks to the over-arching desire of my heart.

Live the Yes

I am making a resolution for 2014: Live the Yes.

By the grace and power of God keep saying “Yes” to Jesus.

What’s your resolution for 2014?

 

Let’s Be Bold!

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10And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

15When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16And they went with haste…  Luke 2:10-16

God’s bold bid.

God has made a bid for relationship. The angel announced it to the shepherds: Christ the Lord has been born! In response the shepherds were bold to go and find Him.

Let’s be bold!

“Let’s be bold!” In my family that’s a request for doughnuts! But its also a bid for relationship. Its a bonding experience.

This holiday “let’s be bold!” I don’t mean to suggest we must all have doughnuts. But I do mean we could do something to bond in our significant relationships.

God has created us for relationships with Him, with ourselves, with people, and with the stuff of earth. During Christmas we celebrate and reflect on the birth of Jesus. According to the Scriptures, He came from the Communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, entering into the relationships of humanity. He entered our relationships to show us who the Father is and to accomplish all that was required for us to enter into the communion of God. Jesus came to seek us, to save us, and to serve us by giving Himself for our forgiveness.

That was bold!

He got close to us in order to lift us up and include us in our Heavenly Father’s love.

Be Bold: Bond with Jesus.

In these holy-days I pray that you get closer to Jesus. You could:

Read the whole Gospel of Luke.

Read an inspiring book. (Here’s a list of free e-books.) 

Attend a worship service with friends and family.

Gathering in a 3+ just for the holiday time with people you don’t usually see.

Have a home worship and prayer time with family members who also follow Jesus.

Find a way to serve or share a meal with those who could use a hand-up, the gift of presence and an encouraging word.

Go on a walk with a family member and thank them for all the “gifts” and grace you have enjoy by being in relationship to them.

Be generous.

 

Hey, “Let’s be bold!”

 

Anticipating Gloom or Glory?

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Anticipation

1Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
John 11:1-4

Anticipation

The Gospel of Jesus changes the way we enter into each day. Jesus moves us to see all things through the perspective of the cross. When we do so, we will see glimpses of God’s glory.

Jesus returned to Bethany anticipating God’s glory. His disciples returned to Bethany with dread. They likely dreaded the grief of Lazarus’ death. They definitely dreaded  the looming conflict with Jerusalem’s authorities. Thomas and the disciples admired Jesus so much they could not imagine life without their leader. (Read the rest of John 11)

But in it all, Jesus wanted them to anticipate seeing God’s glory.

Your Outlook for Today

What are you anticipating today?

Some days our expectations are light and joy. Some days our morning begins with darkness and gloom. Through it all, the Spirit of God would condition us to anticipate the Kingdom of God breaking in so we can get a glimpse of the glory of Jesus.

A Prayer to See God’s Glory

Here’s my prayer for you as I join with the Apostle Paul in his prayer:

14When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

20Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21

Liberate us from our anxieties so we can…

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That was the prayer of a student in my 3+ group yesterday. The cry of those simple words resonated in my heart and mind. I immediately sensed God’s presence and the promise of His Word for this desire.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” John 14:1

“It is I; do not be afraid.” John 6:20

“No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and money. Therefore I tell you do not be anxious about your life… Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:24, 25, 32, 33.

As I reflected further on this “karios moment,” I have become aware that often my  liberation from anxiety is found in process; is not a static condition; and must be renewed. In fact the stirred up or troubled mind could be the very work of the Spirit of God leading me into deeper trust and reliance on Him, healing of my wounds, new connections with my community, and participation in Jesus’ mission.

The anxious mind is definitely preoccupied with worries of the past, present, and future. But it is not purposeful. It paralyses me.

This is why the prayer affected me so profoundly. “Liberate us from our anxieties so we can…” You fill in the blank. You know what the Lord has put before you as responsibilities and opportunities to grow, learn, lead, and love. I hope this will become your prayer too. “Oh Heavenly Father, liberate me from my anxieties so I can ________________.”