Memorizing verses of scripture is only important if to you God’s Word matters. No matter how hard it may be for you to memorize anything, if God’s Word really matters wouldn’t you try? Let me remind us: IT’S GOD’S WORD!!!
Funny how we can have an encounter with someone special and later recall the conversation almost word for word as we excitedly retell it to a friend. We may even repeat the story many times to other friends without any effort at recall. But some extremely impactful and precious words from the mouth of our Lord won’t make a deep enough impression on our brains for us to recollect it a little later. Why is that? We claim to have difficulty memorizing but we can usually memorize what we expect to share. Hmmm.
Those who do memorize a few words from The Word tend to learn verses that meet three basic needs: the need for peace when panicking (Philippians 4:6,7), the need for strength when distressed (1 John 5:4,5), and the need to escape when tempted (1 Corinthians 10:13). These are common choices of believers who know a verse or two by heart. I think it is rarer to find Christians who have memorized a verse that reminds them to live a godly life.
I have challenged some men to memorize James 1:21,22. “Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” May I add, prove yourselves doers of the word and not merely those who are only fond of words that promise peace, power, and protection. Memorize some meat. Tuck away a verse you can recall that reminds you to behave. Commit it to memory. Commit to share it. Commit to do it. Commit to believing that God’s Word Matters.