That I Might Not Sin
What is your best practice to avoid sin? If someone asked you for three specific ways to guard against sin, what would you tell them? Would Scripture memory be on the list? It should be. Psalm 119:11 says, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” How does Scripture memory help us in the battle against sin? Here are three ways that it helps us (although many more could certainly be written!) and three encouragements for how we can incorporate it into our lives.
1. Scripture Memory helps us know the word of God
What should be glaringly obvious is often missed – in order to know how to avoid sin, we need to know what the Bible says. What should our attitude and actions be towards money, work, power, the disabled, sex, time, recreation, and church attendance? The list could go on and on, and although the Bible is not a how-to manual to organize each day, the general principles of godly living can always be applied to our daily lives. Who is God and how do we relate to Him? This question is always important because it will end up guiding our daily decisions and actions.
2. Scripture Memory helps us keep God’s commands
Have you ever tried memorizing the passage your pastor is preaching on? Doing this kind of memory work will help you to meditate on the passage ahead of time, thus preparing your heart for the sermon. You will pay attention better in church as you listen to hear what God is saying through your minister. Perhaps you will have questions that he answers in the sermon, or follow-up questions that can encourage or challenge him. You will be more engaged with the preaching, and a prepared heart is always more ready to hear and obey God’s Word. You will be keeping the Sabbath better and becoming equipped to keep the rest of God’s commands better.
3. Scripture Memory helps us defend the faith
Have you ever had a discussion with an unbeliever only to go, “Ummm, I’m sure I know the answer to this… but I don’t really remember”? Scripture memory can help fill in the blank spots in our witness and conversation. Having verses stored up in your memory will help you to answer objections to the faith, explain what it is that Christians believe, and present the gospel. God’s Word never goes forth from Him void, but prospers in the way He sends it (Isaiah 55:11). To know and understand God’s word is not optional, it is a responsibility. Scripture is God’s special revelation. It is the sword of Truth. It helps us to correctly understand reality. It transforms us, and it is a mighty weapon against sin. Therefore, to love God is to love His word.
How long has it been since you actively memorized Scripture? Are you memorizing as one of your spiritual disciplines? Here are three encouragements to get you started or to help you keep on.
1. You have time for Scripture Memory
The usual American excuse for not doing things we should is, “I don’t have enough time.” As a pregnant mother of six children, I understand the temptation to say, “I don’t have enough time.” But as I tell my friends, “I’m always busy, but I try to make time for those who are important to me.” I don’t have time —I make time. Making time means that something else has to go undone. Many times, we can cut out things that are unnecessary (such as social media) to make time. However, sometimes there are necessary, or good, things that need to go undone in order to accomplish a certain goal. Are you doing Scripture memory with your children? Then you may have to forgo memorizing something else. Are you spending time on the road memorizing Scripture? Then you might need to wait with that phone call to a friend or a sibling. At this point it is helpful to go back to our reason for memorizing Scripture. We are doing this to fight sin, learn what God says and who He is, defend the faith, and keep God’s commandments. Are those things more important than the good and necessary things left behind? Then choose what is best.
2. You CAN memorize Scripture
How many older people lament their failing memories and their inability to focus? Scripture memory is like a muscle – the more you use it, the stronger and better you get at it! Can you think of five things you memorized this week for your work? Perhaps it’s the best way to get a new recipe to turn out right, finding your way in a new area of own, or a list of computer technicalities. But everyone uses memory every day. The elderly person with dementia can be excused from learning new Scripture passages, but even they can remember (and especially sing!) the word of God that they learned in better, younger years.
3. Take up the challenge
Scripture memory is something that can be hard to do in isolation. So challenge yourself – and others. If a challenge is presented, take it up! I know one family whose mother/grandmother asks the entire extended family to work on a Bible memory challenge every year in between family reunions. Then when they are together, they can talk about what they memorized, and they also have a deadline and accountability for getting it done! Our pastor recently challenged the children of our church to memorize Psalm 119 while he was preaching through it at the rate of eight verses a week. Some of the kids took up the challenge and have successfully recited/sung the entire 176 verses of Psalm 119. Ask a friend or a friend group to commit a passage to memory together. You will be surprised at how your friendship deepens and how you are able to connect on a whole new level.
The Psalmist declares, “Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes!” (Psalm 119:12) God will faithfully teach you His statutes as you memorize His word. Have there been any ways that you have been challenged to memorize God’s Word? Have you had any specific blessings flow from it that I have not mentioned here? I would love to hear your comments. You can reach me here. May God bless His Word to your hearts!
