Greater Joy

Memorization is an invitation to a more joy filled life. In John 15, Jesus talks about the idea of abiding and why it matters. He makes it clear that we must remain connected to him (the vine) in a state of constant dependence. When we remain in him, his joy is in us and our joy is full. Memorizing scripture is one way we work to abide in Christ. It is not the act of memorizing Scripture that brings joy but it is through the act of memorizing that we can experience the joy of depending and abiding in Jesus’ love. 

God wants most of all to be with us, empowering us to join him in his kingdom work. Memorizing Scripture has an abundance of uses (as you can see below) but the uses are always with God and for God. Memorizing God’s word enables us to receive from him as we endeavor to live for him.

Memorizing is not about what verses or how much Bible we know. It is about who we know. It is about knowing God. You don’t have to memorize the entire Bible, whole books, chapters, verses. You don’t have to memorize a single verse in the Bible…as cliche as it is, we get to. We get to store up God’s word. God’s word, with as much power as it had in the time it was written, has that same power today. It is a blessing to be able to have God’s word so available to us and have the ability to hide his words in our hearts.

Fighting temptation

Memorizing Scripture enables us to carry the wisdom and guidance of God's Word with us throughout our daily lives. It provides a strong foundation that we can call upon when facing temptation, helping us make choices aligned with God's will. 

In Matthew 4, Jesus is in the wilderness for 40 days and Satan comes to tempt him 3 times. Each of the 3 times, Jesus resists and his response was to fight by speaking Scripture. This response shows us the power of using God's Word as a weapon against temptation and Satan.

A war rages for the souls of both ourselves and those around us (Ephesians 6:12). It's a war in which far too many Christians enter every single day ill-equipped and subsequently find themselves losing in battle. The question we must ask is, why continue walking into a battle without any weapons? In a world filled with spiritual challenges, should we not carry with us the greatest weapon we have, truth. It's a choice that can mean the difference between triumph and defeat in this eternal battle.

A means of meditation

Being able to think on God’s word in any situation is invaluable in the life of a Christian. How do we meditate on God’s word without having it in front of us? Memorization. Standing in line at the grocery store, going on a hike, driving home, there’s a number of situations we find ourselves in daily where we may not have a Bible in front of us. We simply cannot meditate on God’s word without reading it or knowing it. There is power in the word of God and being able to pray and think on a passage, rather than the idea of a passage, is how we differentiate between what we think and what God says.

There is something special about repeating a passage over and over and over again that the Holy Spirit can use to open our eyes and hearts to things we never would have seen by just reading it. When we have the ability to say a passage to ourselves for the entire length of the day and not just when we’re reading our Bibles, we open ourselves up to being able to spend more time meditating and often we perceive nuances and layers of meaning we might otherwise overlook.

Confidence in witnessing

There are a number of reasons we may not share our faith with as much boldness as we ought. One reason is our lack of biblical knowledge, often fearing that they may encounter questions or statements we are ill-prepared to address. Brothers and sisters, rest assured that if you know the Gospel and have the Holy Spirit, you have all you need to be a witness.

Matt Fransisco said it well: “…many of us have avoided discipling others or using our ministry gifts because we’ve been afraid that we don’t know enough or we aren’t equipped enough to lead. However, such a fear betrays a lie we’ve far too often believed: that our ministry fruitfulness and effectiveness in discipleship is primarily dependent upon us and our skill. Without question, we should all strive to become “skilled master builder[s]” (1 Corinthians 3:10) like Paul, but praise God that he doesn’t need us to accomplish his purposes.”

That said, as we commit key passages to memory, we become better equipped to respond with God’s words in discipling and evangelistic situations.

A strong foundation in Scripture grants Christians the ability to articulate their faith with clarity and conviction. When we can readily recall and quote relevant passages, we can confidently explain our beliefs, engage in meaningful conversations, and provide a solid scriptural basis for our faith.

Encouraging others

When fellow Christians seek our input on their life situations, difficult decisions, or personal struggles, one of the most loving and supportive things we can offer them is what God says rather than what we think. When we carry God's Word in our hearts and minds, we're equipped to offer immediate encouragement and support using Scripture to those around us. In times of adversity, sorrow, or doubt, sharing relevant passages can bring solace and hope to those who are going through tough times. 

Our knowledge of the Bible becomes a wellspring of wisdom and comfort, allowing us to provide timely guidance and reassurance to those in need of truth. This practice not only reminds us of God's promises, His love, and His enduring presence, but also serves as a powerful tool for building up the body of Christ and nurturing the faith of fellow believers.

Aligning our hearts

God's Word serves as a timeless source of wisdom, providing us with a clear and unwavering moral compass. When we make an intentional effort to align our hearts with God's through memorization, we open ourselves up to a deeper understanding of God’s perspective on life in Scripture.

By memorizing Scripture, we create a reservoir of truth for our daily needs. The Bible reveals how we should live, how we should treat others, how we should navigate the challenges and decisions that come our way, and most importantly the good news of Jesus Christ. As we hold God's truths close to our hearts, the Holy Spirit can employ them to draw us nearer to Him.

All of these things bring us into a greater joy for the life that God wants us to live; a life with our eyes fixed on him. Abiding in Christ is a choice. We must choose to abide.

Final Word

As one memorizes Scripture, it is very possible that he/she becomes so focused with the task that they loses sight of Jesus. Be on guard against this. May our focus always be on the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.