“Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalms 119:11). Webster’s definition of memorize is, “to learn by heart.” Thus, the process of storing up God’s word in the heart involves memorization; not just to exercise the mental muscle, but for the purpose of reflection, meditation and use.
“Though once a common practice, Biblical memorization has become a lost art in the church. Members who can recite just one passage on each step in God’s marvelous plan of salvation are the exception to the rule. Conversations of a religious nature generally find members of the church having to imitate their neighbor’s responses with, “I know it’s in there somewhere.”
“The proliferation and use of new versions of the Bible have aided in the extraction of the Word from the heart. Incessant hearing of the same terminology from tried and true versions once served to infuse and anchor numerous fundamental passages in the mind. Pulpits and classrooms resounding with a diversity of versions have nullified this valuable means of promoting memorization.
“Preaching in the church today attests to the cessation of memorization among preachers. Members often lack incentive to grow in this area because they witness so little value attached thereto by preachers. Experienced preachers who are forced to read the preponderance of verses utilized in the course of a sermon ought to be ashamed.
“A revival of heart stored words from God would reinstate Bible centered preaching in our pulpits. What good is a proposition without a passage? Of what value is a point void of a word from God to back it up? Where is the merit in a sermon that is not peppered with the authoritative ring of a “thus said the Lord?”
“Biblical memorization is of inestimable value. It enables the Christian to give a quick “answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). It provides an unhesitating response to temptation with “It is written” (Matthew 4:1-11). It enriches the mind, vastly aids preaching and teaching and stirs the evangelistic spirit.”
Frank Chesser
Dasher church of Christ
When I reread these words, I know that I have failed when it comes to memorizing God’s word. I started off memorizing the King James Version, then shifted to the New King James Version, and the dissimilarity between them “threw me off.” So, I didn’t put the effort in that I needed to in order to memorize the New King James Version as I should and could have.
At the same time, I have read that if you were a rabbi in the Old Testament times, that many memorized every word of the Old Testament in an effort to teach it to others. Can you imagine memorizing the entire Old Testament?
So, let me encourage you, and you me, to spend some quality time with the Lord and His word and memorize it.
Let me encourage you to start with the plan of salvation.
HEAR THE WORD OF GOD: Romans 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
BELIEVE IN JESUS, THE SON OF GOD: John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
REPENT OF SINS: Acts 2:38, “Then Peter said, to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 3:19-21, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Jesus Christ who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”
CONFESS JESUS FROM THE HEART: Romans 10:8-10 But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart,” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
BE IMMERSED IN THE NAME OF JESUS FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS – (Acts 2:38 above), Romans 6:3-6, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with Him through baptism unto death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of his death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of his resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.”
Encourage me as I strive to encourage you!
Tommy Tidwell
