My friend Rich has committed his life to befriending international students attending U.S. colleges and universities and sharing with them the love of God and the truth of His Son, Jesus Christ. Rich is warm, upbeat, and outgoing by nature, yet what has influenced me most is how he responds to students’ questions, particularly the “zingers” meant to challenge the existence of God or the perfection of His character. Virtually without exception, he cites the Word, always with an engaging smile, “The Bible teaches us that . . . ” Think of it as Peter’s exhortation in action: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”1 Then as Rich speaks Scripture, most students pause to ponder, as though stirred from an inner slumber at the waking call of truth. The Spirit of God is at work in them.
Consider God’s Word. Its effectiveness is unstoppable, for God says, “it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”2 Its precision is irrefutable, for “The word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.3 Its reliability is impeccable, for “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.4 Indeed, God’s Word is life itself, for “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”6
Then if the Scripture is so powerful, life-giving and transformational, shouldn’t we speak it, as well? And if we are to speak it, isn’t it best that we apply ourselves to knowing it? Personally, I’m not great at memorizing Scripture verbatim, for I have, to quote a friend, a “quick forgetter.” But given the authority of the Word and its fruit, I think it is incumbent on us to apply ourselves as His servants. Paul exhorts us still today: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”7
Then before our Scripture memorization odyssey takes us to different verses, let’s launch here together: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:9 NIV
May the Spirit stir its hearers from their slumber.
Father, Your Word is truth and it is life. Work in us the desire to learn it and the resolve to speak it as Your Spirit leads us. In Christ we pray. Amen.
1 1 Peter 3:15 NIV
2 Isaiah 55:11 NIV
3 Hebrews 4:12 NLT
4 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV
5 John 6:63 ESV
6 Matthew 4:4 ESV, cf Deuteronomy 8:3
7 2 Timothy 2:15 ESV
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Paul Nordman—Author 