Knowing the Word
When I was 11 years old, I got saved, and church was a big part of my life. Even in a large congregation, we still had Sunday school. Every week, we’d gather to learn a memory verse from the lesson. One week, the verse was really long (1 Chron 13:1-5) and we had a full week to learn it. I, however, waited until the start of our one-hour class.
After class, we normally reconvened to quote the memory verse. I was about two-thirds of the way through learning it when the leader told everyone to stand up and quote the passage. I started reciting 1 Chron13:1-5, and I got through three-quarters of the way. Most people only got through verse one or maybe about a quarter of the verse before they stopped. “Come on now! That was horrible,” he said, and he made us do it again. By the third do over, the pastor walked in, looking angry and disappointed.
“Everyone sit down,” he commanded. Then he said, “Stand up if you know the memory verse.”
I was so confident at this point that I stood up immediately, certain I had it down. “Quote the verse,” he said. With a smile, I started: “1 Chron 13:1-5…” I recited the entire verse with only minor stumbling. I felt incredibly proud of myself. Then, as if he could see my pride, he said, “Don’t feel proud.” “Look around,” he told us. Out of a congregation of 900 people, only about 50 were standing. He continued, “This is what it will look like on the day of reckoning. You’re going to think you are ready, but you won’t be, and those of you standing will only make it by the skin of your teeth.” His words reminded me of the scripture: 1 Peter 4:18 “If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear!?”
As I reminisced about this day, I was struck by how different things were back then. We used to weep over our sins and shortcomings; we never celebrated or made excuses for them. I wept bitterly that day, and even now, the memory is so strong that I feel the tears in my eyes as I write. I considered how many people need the word of God that is at our fingertips.
That day taught me a profound lesson.
- God gave us his word, but it is our choice to learn its content. (See John 1) The length of a passage shouldn’t stop us.
- We must take responsibility for our own souls. You can’t rely on others to know the word for you (2 Timothy 2:15).
- We can think we know and believe the word, but we must also obey it. Knowing is not the same as doing (James 1:22).
- We must share this knowledge with others. (Matt 8:18-20) Sharing scripture can give people the answers they need, not necessarily the ones they want. I recently shared a passage with a friend, and despite her problems, the scripture gave her the answers she needed. The decision for her became a matter of obedience.
This memory taught me that true faith is about humility, hard work, and living out God’s word, not just knowing it.
AM