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The Transforming Power of Scripture Memory

December 18th, 2008
Deu 6:4-7 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

 

If we are going to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, his commands must be upon our hearts so that we may impress them on one another morning, noon, and night.

Josh 1:8-9 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

 

Meditation is the practice of repeating something out loud in such a way as to ponder or consider it. That is why the verse says the Scripture is not to "depart from your mouth." Constant meditation on the Scripture is part of God's plan for transforming us into faithful men and women of God.

Psa 119:97-100 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. 98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. 100 I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts.

 

Understanding God is brought about by obeying him. That's why most disciples have more true understanding than most theologians. This understanding and insight proceeds from having the Scriptures "ever with me."

Isa 55:10-11 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

 

The Word of God is powerful. It always has an effect, and never fails to change the lives, thoughts, and attitudes of the hearer. If we water our hearts with the Word, we cannot help but become more like God.

Mat 4:4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

 

When temptation came to Jesus, he knew the exact Scripture to counter it. We are to live on the Word even more than on food.

2 Cor 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

 

The word "reflect" literally means "behold as in a mirror." It is through this reflection on God (born out of constant meditation), that God promises he will automatically and naturally transform our lives "into his likeness with ever-increasing glory."

1 Th 5:16-18 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

 

We are encouraged and commanded to pray continually. This is the morning-to-night devotion God is looking for in order to be able to work in and through our lives.

Test Yourself
1. How many of these verses have I memorized exactly, word for word?
2. How many days this week were these verses on my mind many times during the day?
3. How much did I believe, trust, take to heart, and obey these Scriptures?
4. How much did I enjoy drawing close to God and meditating on the Word of God in comparison with other common pleasures?
5. How many times did these verses inspire me to do something good that I otherwise would have struggled to do? In what ways?
6. How many times did these verses give me the strength to overcome temptation? In what ways?
7. How many times have I shared these victories with my spouse or another brother or sister?
8. How good did I feel about my growth and how much do I look forward to continuing this growth every week of my life?