Mark's Space

In Psalm 119:9-11, the psalmist writes:

How can a young man keep his way pure?  By keeping it according to Thy word.  With all my heart I have sought Thee; Do not let me wander from Thy commandments.  Thy word I have treasured in my heart that I may not sin against Thee (NASB).

The word "treasured" comes from the Hebrew word 'tsaphan' which means to hide, treasure, or store up.  The King James version translates this verse as "Thy word I have hid in my heart that I may not sin against thee".  It would seem appropriate to say that in order to hide God's word in our hearts, we would need to take some form of action other than the daily reading of God's word. 

In order to not build a doctrine on a single verse of scripture, let's look at some other convincing proofs to support this:

My son, observe the commandment of your father, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother; Bind them continually on your heart; tie them around your neck . When you walk about they will guide you; When you sleep they will watch over you; and when you awake they will talk to you.  For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light and reproofs for discipline are the way of life (Proverbs 6:20-23 NASB).

Notice that the writer instructs you to "Bind them continually on your heart; tie them around your neck".  Elsewhere in Proverbs it says the following:

My son, keep my words And treasure my commandments within you. Keep my commandments and live, And my teaching as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart (Proverbs 7:1-3).

Once again, we have the exhortation to bind, or write the word of God on our hearts.  But now that we know that God clearly wants his word written on the tablet of our hearts, how do we go about getting it there.  Obviously, one way is simply to read it but that does not seem to be an adequate exercise.  There seems to be more of an effort which needs to be expended that transcends the simple reading of scripture.  It seems that to write God's word on the 'tablet of your heart' you need a special kind of stylus in order that the words don't fade away on the page.

Memorization it seems is the only way to write the words of scripture on your heart in such a way as to keep them there.  I find that after many years, I am still able to recall verses I have memorized.  Below are listed a few reasons to memorize scripture.  This by no means is a complete list but rather the most important ones.

Reasons To Memorize Scripture:

• To stay obedient to God's Word.

The psalmist writes: "Thy word I have treasured in my heart that I may not sin against Thee" (Psalm 119:11 NASB).  The most important reason of all is that we obey the Lord in all things he commands.  The Apostle John says: "By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. (1 John 2:3 NASB).  Additionally, God spoke to Joshua: "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it...(Joshua 1:8 NASB).

• To assist us in the our continuing sanctification.

Paul says in Romans: "I urge you therefore brethren by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.  And to not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:1-2 NASB). When you memorize scripture, the believer is placing in their heart the Word of God.  This will have a sanctifying effect and help to grow in the walk with Christ.

In an article for Pulpit Magazine titled "Killing Sin in your life (Part 2), John Mc Arthur says:

"Whatever really controls your mind, controls your behavior; so keep out the garbage (of worldly thinking) and saturate the soil of your mind with a steady diet of God’s glorious truth. Sin can’t grow in a Spirit-controlled life. And the Spirit controls our thinking through the Word of Christ" (Col. 3:16-17; cf. Eph. 5:18; Rom. 12:2).

• To prepare for and enhance ones testimony.

Peter writes:  "...but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you...(1 Peter 3:15 NASB).  When we have scripture memorized, we can more effectively weave it in to conversations with unbelievers thereby enhancing our ability to witness for our Lord.  Most unbelievers will become uncomfortable at the sight of a Bible therefore we should refrain from witnessing with one in our hand.

I can tell you from experience that scripture memory is hard work especially after you get a little older.  You have to make a conscious effort to be able to be successful at it.  The following are some tips that I have learned over the time that I have been memorizing scripture.

Scripture Memory Tips:

1. Create a plan of action for your memorization tasks.  Decide whither or not to use a predefined set of verses such as a scripture memory kit or use verses that you read during your morning devotional.  Set aside time during the day to concentrate solely on the memorization of scripture.
2. If you are using one of the scripture memory kits such as "MacArthur Scripture Memory System", keep the cards with you as much as possible.  Otherwise, write out your verses on index cards and keep them with you so you can work on them wherever you go.  You will be surprised how much dead time you will find to work on your memorization tasks. 
3. Memorize the reference along with the verse.  This assures that you will be able to find it in your Bible when needed.
4. Do not attempt to memorize to much at once; start with maybe a verse a week.  It is important that you work with the verse both to retain and understand the content.  Attempting to memorize to much and too quickly tends to make recall more difficult.
5. Review your verses on a regular basis using your memory cards as flash cards.  Have a friend read you the verse reference and test you.  If the friend is a non-christian, this is a good time for witnessing.

In the last blog, we looked at the holy character of God and established that his character is perfect and that he is creator, owner, and controller of everything.  Now we will begin to examine what relevance it has to our lives.

After reading the last article did you say to yourself, "What does this have to do with me?"  If you did, the answer is very simple one.  Because He is creator of all and owner of everything, He is deserving of our utmost worship and adoration.  This is one of the great themes of the Bible.  God expects this from all of His creation not because he is an ego-maniac, but because it is truth.  In other words, because God is who he is, to do any less would be a denial of that truth.  Why wouldn't He expect you to acknowledge what is one of the single most important truths in creation?  It is a trustworthy statement that God not only deserves to be honored simply for who he is, but he demands it of his creation.  The scripture says: "...You (Man) shall be holy, for I (God) am holy".   That is His standard.  That is standard he expects us to live up to.

What does it mean to be holy?  The word 'holy' is translated in the New Testament from the Greek word 'hagiasmos' and means to purify or consecrate.  This word in some translations of the Bible is translated 'sanctification'. The word 'sanctification' is synonymous with holy and the two are often used interchangeably.  The main point is that to be holy means to be pure, undefiled, set apart to God and really has no meaning apart from God.

This leads us to the question of falling short of this goal (sin).  The word 'sin' is translated in the New Testament from the Greek word 'hamartano' which means to miss the mark with the implication of not sharing in the prize.  The Hebrew word 'chata' is used in the Old Testament and carries the same meaning and implication.  Sin is the opposite of holiness.  There are no differing levels of sin and holiness.  You either are one state (holy) or the other (sin).

Sin has deep roots in the human experience.  It began right from the start of creation.  When God created Adam and placed him in the garden he instructed him, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die". (Genesis 2:16-17)  These are very simple instructions and should have been pretty easy to follow.  However, in the next chapter of Genesis, after God had created Eve we read:

Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made.  And he said to the woman, "Indeed has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden?'  and the woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, "You shall not eat from it, or touch it, lest you die".  And the serpent said to the woman, "You surely shall not die!  For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3: 1-5)

I believe that no story in scripture has been more maligned and mocked than this one due to the fact that it is either disbelieved, or just simply misunderstood.  The main point we need to glean from this is what the serpent tells Eve: "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.".  It wasn't that there was anything magical about the fruit that would make one wise and make us like God but that it would be appealing to be like God.  This is the essence of sin, the desire to be like God and in the pursuit of this we are guilty of open rebellion against Him. 

This single act of defiance brought sin into the world for all of mankind.  You are probably saying about now, "It is only a single act.  Surely God can overlook it!".  You see, it is too late for that.  Once we learned to disobey, we just keep on doing it.  Throughout the generations disobedience became the way of life for all men.  It took over our lives and hearts, and directed our thoughts and actions.  We no longer needed God (so we thought).

Lets go back to the conversation between God and Adam in the garden.  Remember that he was told that if he ate from the tree what the consequences would be?  God said "...for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.".  Are you thinking, "If he died than how come I am alive?".  That would be true if he was to die a physical death (which he eventually did) but more over he died a spiritual death.  God removed him from the garden and from His presence forever.  The Bible says, "For the wages of sin is death...(Romans 6:23).   Just like the high standard of character that God expects from us, so to is the penalty for those who disobey.

The question remains - Can man be saved from this death? 

More in the next blog.

Many of us do not really know who God is.  We use His name numerous times in our daily lives.  Sometimes in vain, sometimes to refer to an entity we know is there but really don't know personally.  Sometimes we have decided who he is based on our own feelings and thoughts.  Who really is God?  What is he like?  What relevance does he have to my life?

The Bible says that all men have a certain amount of knowledge of Him.  The book of Romans says "...that which is known about God is evident within them (Man); for God made it evident to them.  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes and His divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made..." (Romans 1:18-20).  Clearly the Bible says that we have a concept of who he is.  According to the verse above, even the atheist has a concept of Him or else he would have nothing to disbelieve.

So who is this God that we see clearly through his works every day of our lives?  What are his attributes and nature?  What is the character of God?  Here is how the Bible describes Him:

1.  God is spirit.

God is spirit and those who worship must worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

2.  God is one.

...The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! (Deuteronomy 6:4).

3.  God is infinite.

But will God indeed dwell on the earth?  Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain Thee... (1 Kings 8:27)

... for in Him we live and move and exist.. (Acts 17:28).

4.  God is eternal.

Before the mountains were born, Thou didst give birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting Thou art God (Psalm 90:2).

The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; the Lord has clothed and girded Himself with strength; indeed the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.  Thy throne is established from of old; Thou art from everlasting (Psalm 93:1-2).

5.  God is self-existent

...I am the first and the last, and there is no God besides Me (Isaiah 44:6)

For just as the Father has life in himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself (John 5:24).

6.  God is self-sufficient

The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; neither is He served by human hands, as though he needed anything since He Himself gives to all life and breath and all things...(Acts 17:24-25).

7.  God is unchanging and unchangeable (Immutable).

Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow (James 1:17).

8.  God is everywhere (Omnipresent).

Where can I go from they spirit?  Or where can I flee from Thy presence?  If I ascend to heaven, Thou art there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, Thou art there.  If I take the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Thy hand will lead me.  If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night," Even the darkness is not dark to thee, and the night is as bright as the day.  Darkness and light are alike to Thee.

9.  God is sovereign.

Thy throne O God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Thy kingdom (Psalm 45:6).

10.  God is all-knowing (Omniscient).

He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them (Psalm 147:4)

Behold the former things have come to pass, now I declare new things, before they spring forth I proclaim them to you (Isaiah 42:8).

11.  God is all-powerful (Omnipotent).

The voice of the lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord is over many waters.  The voice of the Lord is powerful, the voice of the lord is majestic.  The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; Yes, the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.  And he makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.  The voice of the Lord hews out flames of fire.  The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes wilderness of Kadesh.  The voice of the Lord makes the deer to calve, and strips the forests bare, and in His temple everything says, "Glory!" (Psalm 29:3-9).

12.  God is just.

... His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He (Deuteronomy 32:4).

13.  God is loving.

And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us.  God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him (1 John 4:16).

We love, because he first loved us (1 John 4:19).

14.  God is truth.

God is not a man that he should lie...Has He said, and will He not do it?  Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19)

15.  God is holy.

Because it is written, You (man) shall be holy, for I (God) am holy.

Therefore you (man) are to be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect (Matthew 5:48).

Because God is who he is, we can surmise that he is the creator and owner of everything.  The first verse of the Bible says: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...".  Psalm 24 says: "The earth is the Lord's and all it contains, the world and those who dwell in it.  For he has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers".  The God of the Bible is all in all and there is none other than Him.  Clearly He is creator and owner of everything that exists.

In the next blog, I will cover this topic further.

If you suffer from laziness as I do, here are some Bible verses which tell us the Lord's opinion of this condition.  The word "Sluggard" comes from the Hebrew word "aw-tsale'" which is a derivative of the word "aw-tsal" which means idle, slack, or slothful.  The following verses are so self-explanatory that no further commentary is needed.

Proverbs 6:6-11 - Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which having no chief, officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest.  How long will you lie down, O Sluggard?  When will you arise from your sleep?  A little sleep, a little slumber a little folding of the hands to rest and your poverty will come like a vagabond, and your need like an armed man.

Proverbs 10:26 - Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy one to those who send him.

Proverbs 12:27 - A slothful man does not roast his prey but the precious possession of a man is diligence.

Proverbs 13:4  - The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the soul of the diligent is made fat.

Proverbs 15:19 - The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway

Proverbs 18:9 - He who is slack in his work is brother to him who destroys.

Proverbs 19:15 - Laziness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle man will suffer hunger.

Proverbs 19:24 - The sluggard buries his hand in the dish, and will not even bring it back to his mouth.

Proverbs 20:4 - The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, so he begs during the harvest and has nothing.

Proverbs 21:25 - The desire of the sluggard puts him to death for his hands refuse to work; all day long he is craving, while the righteous gives and does not hold back.

Proverbs 22:13 - The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside; I shall be slain in the streets!"

Proverbs 26:13 - The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A lion in the open square!" 

Proverbs 26:14 - As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed. 

Proverbs 26:15 - The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is weary of bringing it back to his mouth again.

Proverbs 26:16 - The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can give a discrete answer.

Ecclesiastes 10:18 - Through indolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks.

For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Herein is given the qualifications, scope, and ability of the Word of God.  Its qualification is that it is "living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword."  Its scope is that it can pierce "as far  as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow." In other words, there is no place in our lives that it cannot permeate.  Its ability is that it is "able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

The Bible is more than just a book we read during Sunday Church services.  It is the literal "living and active" word of God.  This gives study of it a whole new meaning.  We need to come to it with a new outlook; a new reverence; a new sense of awe.

It is the Word of God.  If it is the Word of God, what then should I expect from it?  What is the result which may be gained by its reading, study, and meditation?  In the third chapter of 1 Timothy verses 16 thru 17 we read: "For all scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."

Because of its qualifications and ability, the Word of God is not only profitable "for teaching, for reproof, for correction", but most importantly, "training in righteousness".  This training encompasses the whole of the statement and gives it new meaning.  We are not born righteous but need to be trained.  We need to be taught, reproved, and corrected as children need to be when they are young.  The result of this training is "that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work".

You don't need to be a scholar to study the Word of God.  Start by reading it.  This is the most important of tasks.  If we don't read we have no chance of understanding.  If we have no understanding then we have no benefit and remain inadequate and ill-equipped.

Having this in mind, why would we ignore so great a gift, so important a calling as the study of the Word of God?

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)