Scripture Memory

"The practice of scripture memory is more important than a daily quiet time, for as we fill our minds with great passages of the Bible and have them available for our meditation, quiet time takes over the entirety of our lives." --Dallas Willard, The Great Omission.

Scripture memory seems to increase my ability to practice the presence of God. In the circumstances of life, the Word I have committed to memory bubbles up from inside at the calling of the Spirit of God (Jn 14:26) to remind me of who He is and of my position in Christ. God tells us to memorize scripture (Josh 1:8), and knowing scripture is mandatory if we are to be obedient to Gods commands (Jn 14:21). God gives understanding of his Word over time if we look to his Spirit as the teacher of the it's meaning (Jn 14:26, Ps 119:18). I sometimes find quiet times difficult, and to me, it is reassuring to note that working on scripture memory during dry times can be profitable.

The Preeminence of Christ

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. Colossians 1:15-20


Observations About Jesus From Above Text:

1) He is the image of God. (Hebrews 1:3, 2 Cor 4:4)
2) He is the firstborn of all creation. This refers to position not actual birth or creation (as Jesus was not created). He holds the position of firstborn over all things.
3) He is the creator of all things on earth or in heaven. (John 1:3, Hebrews 1:2)
4) He is eternal. (John 1:1-2, John 8:58)
5) He is the glue that holds all things together. He maintains and sustains the universe. He is the creator of the laws of nature. (Hebrews 1:3)
6) He is the head of the believing church and the first to rise in the body.
7) He is filled with the fullness of God. (Col 2:9, John 1:1, Rom 9:5, Jeremiah 23:5-6)
8) He is the reconciler of all creation to himself. (Rom 5:10-11, 2 Cor 5:18-19)

Summary:
Jesus is the image of God, God, creator, eternal, sustainer, reconciler and the head of the church.

Give God The Glory

Declare this in the house of Jacob; proclaim it in Judah: 21 “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not. 22 Do you not fear me? declares the Lord. Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot pass over it. 23 But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away. 24 They do not say in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives the rain in its season, the autumn rain and the spring rain, and keeps for us the weeks appointed for the harvest.’ 25 Your iniquities have turned these away, and your sins have kept good from you. 26 For wicked men are found among my people; they lurk like fowlers lying in wait. They set a trap; they catch men. 27 Like a cage full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; therefore they have become great and rich; 28 they have grown fat and sleek. They know no bounds in deeds of evil; they judge not with justice the cause of the fatherless, to make it prosper, and they do not defend the rights of the needy. 29 Shall I not punish them for these things? declares the Lord, and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?” 30 An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: 31 the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes? Jeremiah 5:20-31

Observations from verses:
1. God is Almighty and to be feared, honored, and worshipped.
2. The people have a choice of whether to fear God. They have free will.
3. God gives good things to all. Some turn from away in prosperity b/c of pride.
3. There are wicked men among the people of God.
4. God punishes the unfaithful for their sins.

Forgiveness

We are commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive those who sin against us (Col 3:13; Mat 6:12, 14-15; Mat 18:35). In addition, Jesus says that we will be forgiven as we forgive (see preceding verses). This is a frightening fact. I have struggled with this because emotions seem to play such an important role in how well we forgive. Emotions are very difficult to control. In a book I am reading,* Ed Wheat gives some helpful thoughts on this issue. He says there are three steps in forgiving someone:

1) First, there must be an act of the will. A person must actively choose to forgive.
2) Second, behavior must conform to God's plan or will for us. We must love our neighbor as ourselves, pray for those who persecute us and keep no record of wrongs. (Eph 4:31-32)
3)Third, God transforms our feelings and thoughts toward forgiveness and love.

So, we have two responsibilities which are dependent on our wills and God transforms the emotions. Notice the offender has no role in our forgiveness of him or her.


*Love Life For Every Married Couple by Ed Wheat and Gloria Okes Perkins, Zondervan, 1980.