It's not just for kids any more

I was reminded this past week of the need for the church, yes even adults, to rediscover the lost art of Scripture Memory. Back at Osceola (the church I pastored prior to coming to Lititz) we had an AWANA program. AWANA stands for Approved Workers Are Not Ashamed. It is a program for kids that centers all around Scripture Memory…lots of it. One year our Awana Commander asked me to speak to all of the Awana workers prior to the start of the ministry year. My devotion was very short. I simply said, “Let me give you my definition of a hypocrite . . . a hypocrite is an Awana worker who never memorizes Scripture!” I then closed in prayer. By the way, I never got invited to speak to the Awana workers again, but that’s not the point. The point is that Scripture memory is like Frosted Flakes . . . it’s not just for kids anymore!

Why is that we somehow have reserved memorizing Scripture as something only for our kids? Why don’t we adults ever hide the Word of God in our hearts? The Psalmist said that when we hide the Word of God in our hearts, it keeps us from sin. Is that true? I remember a speaker in chapel when I was a student at Liberty University share the story of when he was given a ticket to the greatest sports event of the year . . . the Super Bowl. He was only given one ticket, though. His wife, however, knowing how important this was to her husband, insisted that he go by himself. So off he went.

He explained to us how incredible the game was but how utterly immoral the atmosphere around the game could get. After the game was over, he was heading up the hotel elevator very late at night. As the elevator stopped at a floor a few levels below his, a very attractive young lady got on board. She was obviously intoxicated and alone with him on the elevator, she made her intentions to spend the evening with this man very clear. The man couldn’t believe the situation he found himself in. This was a beautiful women, not one who would usually find him attractive (remember, I said she was intoxicated). He realized that he could probably indulge in a night of unbridled passion and chances were more than excellent that not a soul would ever find out.

In that moment when a bad decision could have drastically ruined his life, a thought went through this man’s mind that immediately allowed him the strength to turn down the offer and retire to his room alone to shower, pray and go to sleep. What was that thought? Was it his wife? No. In fact, she never crossed his mind. Was it his children? They were not the thought. Was it his ministry and the thought of losing such an effective position? No. That did not cross his mind either. Than what was it? What was the thought that allowed this man to say “no” to this beautiful women and stay faithful to his wife and to his Lord? It was a Scripture verse that he had memorized just that morning. As the Holy Spirit brought that verse that had been tucked into his heart to the forefront of his mind, he was able to courageously resist the temptation. The Psalmist was right!

So, tell me, when was the last time you committed to memory a verse from the Bible? Be careful, no excuse is valid. Scripture memory . . . it’s not just for kids anymore!