Memorize

Really, this is for Christians. If you are not, you are still most welcome to read on.

Tonight, I had a conversation with a fellow believer who said he that while having a conversation with another believer, that man couldn't figure out the big deal with memorizing verses or chapters in the Bible. My jaw slacked. Then my eyebrows raised. This would be like someone who was committed to fitness eschewing cardio.

I didn't know what to say.

John Piper makes clear in this wonderful video that Bible memorization is not commanded in Scripture. Well, okay. It is for the most part assumed as needful:

"I have stored your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." (Psalm 119:11)

Considering most could not afford to have a "Bible" at their disposal during Old and New Testament times, Bible memorization became a normal Christian discipline. Help the poor. Memorize God's word.

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

But memorizing God's word has fallen out of vogue. We have an app, after all. I can listen to it on my way to work and one and a half times speed. Nice, but for the one who has toiled to bring God's word deep into their soul, wrestling with that's and which's, they would contend that to struggle with a passage is to better understand God and his grandeur because they better understand that which he has spoken.

So what? I want to encourage you to memorize. AND I want you to encourage me to continue to memorize. I DO NOT want you to memorize simply to memorize. I want you to memorize to:

• Know and love your Savior with a hotter and deeper passion
• Ache for the holiness to which he calls you and to strive thereto
• Seek the Source of sanctifying wisdom given to man
• Be the saint he has gifted you to be in the Church
• Be nourished with the only food that will satisfy your soul
• See God as he has revealed himself in his word

To encourage folks in this endeavor, I have started a Facebook page: 1Chapter. If you would like to be apart of the encouragement that comes from having others spur you on to memorize God's word, let me know and I'll add you to the group. No cost. No gimmicks. From time to time we'll drop some encouragement onto the page to spur you in your journey. We'll provide links and ideas to help you memorize. 

Last June, I encouraged folks to take the next two months and memorize one chapter of God's word. Here we go again. Between now and Thanksgiving you have three months. You can do it. One chapter.

Join the page and let me know your chapter. We can encourage one another.