Encouragement for Today - July 18, 2006
Encouragement for Today
Principle1
“Why Should I Know God's Word?”
Melissa Taylor, Proverbs 31 Speaker
http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/speaker_melissa.htm
Key Verse:
Psalm 119:11, “I have hidden Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (NLT)
Devotion:
Memory verses...learning the Word of God so it will penetrate my heart… and I will live it for all to see...UUGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!
Memory verses really make me think of 3rd grade Sunday School when the teacher quizzed everyone on the spot. Now it's coming back to me and I'm sweating! I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength; For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son...and whoever believes in Him shall have eternal life; There are 3 things that last forever...faith, hope and love...the greatest is love; Obey your parents (I think Mom taught me this one!); but while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” The list goes on.
I remember cramming this information into my brain every week as we drove to Sunday school. I so wanted to please my sweet teacher, Mrs. Jackson. One Sunday I showed up and recited all of the books in the Bible...in order...Old and New Testament. Aren't you impressed? Mrs. Jackson was! She even had me do it for other Sunday school teachers and in front of my whole class.
That was 3rd grade. I was nine years old. I wasn't thinking of "hiding God's word in my heart" as an act of obedience to God. I was only concerned that I didn't let my teacher down.
What about you? What about me – today - at age 37? Do we memorize Bible verses and if so, why? Is it to impress others, including God? Or do we realize the treasure that is found in knowing God's word, as promised in Psalm 119:11?
As I read today's key verse in my Life Application Study Bible, I discovered a powerful reason to memorize scripture. It says, “Hiding (keeping) God's Word in our heart is a deterrent to sin. This alone should inspire us to memorize Scripture. But memorization alone will not keep us from sin; we must also put God's Word to work in our life, making it a vital guide for everything we do.”
Jesus knew God's Word and it was His life guide, It was His weapon in a battle He faced with His greatest enemy. It became His response to the temptations of Satan when He was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit for forty days. During these forty days Jesus not only fasted – He prayed. I am sure that Jesus was filled with peace and love because of His wilderness experience but I imagine He was hungry as well, wanting a little conversation and laughter with friends and family. But who shows up? Satan. He tempted Jesus three times with desires that we could never turn down … in our own power. And it was the same with Christ. He did not have to face the devil alone because He had God's Word planted and rooted (hidden) in the pit of His heart. The first time He was tempted, Jesus replied, "It is written, [in God's Word] people need more than bread for their life, they must feed on the Word of God." His response to the second temptation was, "It is written, do not test the Lord your God". When the final temptation came, Jesus again responded with the Word of God, "It is written, ‘You must worship the Lord your God; and serve only Him’."
Jesus was able to remain sinless because He had God's Word hidden in His heart and lived out the truth of it when He needed it most.
I was trying to impress Mrs. Jackson back in the 3rd grade but you know what, I still remember many of the verses I memorized. Today those verses come to mind when I need His truth. It's important to know God's Word.
I encourage you to hide God's Word in your heart. Spend time with Him in His Word every day. God loves you whether you memorize verses or not. But, He has given you His Word. If you know it, you can obey it and you can live it. That is why it is important to know God's Word.
My prayer for today:
Lord, thank you for Your Word which is written in the Bible. Help me to know you better by knowing Your Word. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Application Steps:
If you've never memorized scripture, choose one verse to learn this month. Increase from there, posting these verses throughout your home, car, etc. If you are a mom, teach your new verses to your children and help them to memorize them, too.
Reflection Points:
Do I know God's Word just to know it or am I also living it?
Am I spending time with the Lord every day? If not, then what is more important than this?
When tempted, do I know what I need to do in order to have a way out? Am I using God's Word to overcome temptation?
Power Verses:
Psalm 119:11, “I have hidden Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” (NLT)
Job
Deuteronomy 11:18, 19, “So commit yourselves completely to these Words of mine. Tie them to your hands as a reminder, and wear them on your forehead. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away on a journey, when you are lying down and when you are getting up again.” (NLT)
1 Corinthians
Additional Resources:
Becoming a Woman Who Listens to God, by Sharon Jaynes
http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/newresources_becomingAWoman.htm
Radically Obedient, Radically Blessed by Lysa TerKeurst
http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/newresources_radicallyObedient.htm
Scriptures for Battling Fear, ETC Corner May 2004
http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/etcMay04.htm
