I go in and out of phases where I feel called to memorize scripture. There are times I feel like I really need to be hiding His word in my heart. I want those time of call to be more frequent. Well, there are 2 verse that Tricia and I are posting in visible locations around our house and cars right now that we want to fill our heads and hearts with:
"Fill your minds and meditate on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse." Phil. 4:8
"You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness." Ephesians 4:4-6
Some people hate the idea of Scripture memorization 'cause it is often used as a measure of a believer's worth. That idea is wrong, of course, but we shouldn't throw the baby out with the bath water. Here's my thinking (in brief):
ReplyDelete1) The Bible says that the Father communications with the Holy Spirit. Both being Spirit they would hardly use a human language - frail, finite and fallible as they are. So they must use some "spiritual language".
2) Our minds work mostly in our native tongue, English for most of us (except me, I'm from WV). Because we are limited to human language, we cannot "hear" the "spiritual language" and understand it.
3) The Bible is "the Word of God, written in human languages for all mankind". Therefor it is both "spiritual language" and human language.
So, if we have lots of verses memorized (and hymns and such) when the Holy Spirit wants to speak "spiritual" things to use, these verses provide a bridge of sots allowing us to understand. Maybe that's why that special hymn comes to mind in just the right moment that we need it. Maybe the Spirit is speaking through the building blocks of memorized verses and hymns to reach our minds. Food for thought. (Be glad I only posted the brief version.) bo)