Despite Stephen’s situation, falsely accused of blasphemy against his God, Christ’s last words, “And lo, I am with you always,” flooded his mind and gave him serene strength (Matthew 28:20).
“Are these charges true?” The question erupted into his peaceful thoughts. Pausing but for a moment to recall the stories he had studied, Stephan began to recount the Jews’ history, focusing on God’s greatness. During the last moments of his life, not only did God’s Word penetrate Stephen’s mind, but he quoted Scripture directly eleven times. For years before this, he had prepared himself by diligently memorizing Scripture. As a result, God’s Word provided him the supernatural strength he needed to persevere through his overwhelming trail and also furnished a deep knowledge of the Word (Acts 6:11-7:60). In a similar manner, Scripture memory completely transforms the hearts, minds, and bodies of Christians even today.
Amazingly, merely memorizing Scripture can change people into the likeness of Christ. Removing all doubts, Paul explains, “We all, with unveiled face, beholding...the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image...” (2 Corinthians 3:18). To imitate God in everything, believers must passionately pursue His face and let it transform them into His likeness. Although simply reading gives believers a glimpse of the glory of the Lord, those who memorize freely behold His majesty, as His words flow incessantly through their mind. As 2 Timothy 3:16-17 asserts, “All Scripture is given...that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” By memorizing these life-changing Scriptures, Christians place His image within themselves and He completes them. Only by diligent Scripture memory can a child of God sincerely imitate Him.
Astonishingly, God’s Word provides the strength and hope needed to valiantly persevere through trails. Memorizing Scriptures unlocks the vat to this power. As spoken by one who endured severe trails: “Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction” (Psalm 119:92). David’s declaration perfectly depicts a woman imprisoned by the Japanese in a concentration camp. While there, she somehow managed to acquire a copy of John, which she began to memorize. Later, coming to interview the detainees, a reporter scrutinized their dejected faces and zombie-like appearances, surprised to find among them the same woman’s brightly shining countenance. “I wonder if they succeeded in brainwashing her?” someone asked. “No,” replied the reporter, smiling, “God washed her brain” (Graham 44-45). Similarly, Scripture committed to memory upholds and strengthens Christians in times of trouble.
Psalm 119:11 as paraphrased by The Message reveals David’s disciplined actions in order to conquer temptation: “I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won’t sin myself bankrupt.” David stored the invaluable treasures of the Word in his heart and gave himself the most powerful antidote against sin. Even in the very first temptation, Satan attacked the validity of God’s Word with the question: “Did God really say this?” If Eve had hidden Scripture in her heart, she would have instantaneously quoted that Word, and walked away free from the forbidden fruit. As Christians fill their minds with truth through memorization, the enemy’s deceit will not imprison them. Clearly, Scripture memory gives a person freedom from sin’s power over his life.
Memorization takes a believer deeper in his knowledge of and love for God’s Word. Often when I memorize a passage, I learn more through the process of memorization than merely reading it. I distinctly remember perusing over Colossians this summer, and not understanding its full meaning. However, as I memorized it, the blur dissipated. Had I not memorized Colossians, I would have missed many breath-taking truths. In the words of St. John Chrysostom, “To get the full flavor of an herb, it must be pressed between the fingers.” Similarly, as a man familiarizes himself with the Scriptures, “they reveal their hidden treasures and yield their indescribable riches” (Chrysostom). By digging deep into Scripture through memorization, God’s children gain invaluable treasures through the knowledge of God’s Word.
Over and over, in history and Scripture itself, we see the power of Bible memory. Ten times in Psalm 119 David expresses his delight in God’s Word, as prompted by diligent study and memorization. He has understood the words of his Lord and encountered their immeasurable benefits. Similarly, if God’s children today will diligently hide His Word in their hearts, He will bless and transform them beyond their greatest dreams. I see this in my own memorization journey, as Scripture completely transforms me. This daily discipline has instilled within me a fervent passion for memorizing Scripture. As a result I have researched and begun writing a book on the value of memorization. Bible memory transformed countless lives, and I pray it will continue to change people even today, for the glory of Christ.
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