My children are memorizing Scripture because my wife and I feel it's important for them to know the Truth. When I asked my eldest daughter which Scripture she had memorized, she told me Proverbs 8:20 and quoted it correctly. Then I asked her what that verse meant and she paused and scratched her head, started to say something then backtracked and finally said, "I don't know."
It's one thing to quote from the Holy Bible. And it's an entirely different matter when it comes to knowing the Truth and understanding it. I could easily memorize Albert Einstein's famous equation on relativity. People recognize it as E = mc2 (the little 2 is supposed to be a superscript of c, but I can't get the format to work). Anyway, Einstein derived the equation of energy and mass, and how they are equivalent. Now, ask me what it all means and I'll give pause, scratch my head and eventually mumble, "I don't know."
So, it's important to know Scripture and know Scripture.
It's one thing to quote from the Holy Bible. And it's an entirely different matter when it comes to knowing the Truth and understanding it. I could easily memorize Albert Einstein's famous equation on relativity. People recognize it as E = mc2 (the little 2 is supposed to be a superscript of c, but I can't get the format to work). Anyway, Einstein derived the equation of energy and mass, and how they are equivalent. Now, ask me what it all means and I'll give pause, scratch my head and eventually mumble, "I don't know."
So, it's important to know Scripture and know Scripture.
It's important for our little ones to know the Truth and carry It with them wherever they go. In fact, Scripture serves like a sword, cutting through all of the red tape, hogwash and other nonsense this world throws at us. In fact, Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword..." So, God's Word guides us into all Truth, cutting to the chase. Hebrews 4:12 ends by saying, "...piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." In other words, when you read God's Word, it also reads you.
Here are examples of lies and the Scriptural references to counter the lies:
1. Try this drug/alcohol, you'll like it. - "Can a man take a fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burned?" [Proverbs 6:27]
2. Don't get mad, get even. - "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." [Romans 12:19]
3. Follow your heart and you will be happy. "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it?" [Jeremiah 17:9]
I won't belabor the point, but you see how wonderful God's word is in protecting us from the lies of the devil, the world, and even our own selves. The key, though, is not only knowing Scripture, but also understanding the context of the Bible passage as well as how it applies to our own lives.
But, the thing is this: The Bible can be understood only by those are who saved. You see, the Bible is God inspired. Those who are born again have His indwelling Spirit living inside to help us understand His word. So, for those who aren't saved, reading the Bible will not yield any type of change of the lasting kind. To the unsaved, Scripture is a bunch of dead letters. That's why we read the Bible; not just for wisdom, but for real change in our choices. Plus, it's vital to be connected to a Bible-believing church (I Timothy 3:15)
There is Good News for the unsaved who want to read the Bible; the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are intended for them. These four books can be read by the unsaved because they give one simple message: Repent. It is the message that Jesus Christ spoke to sinners of that time and speaks even now to you and me.
Ultimately, the purpose of knowing and understanding the Bible is to know Jesus Christ, who was the Word; He was with God and He is God (John 1:1).
Which brings up the question: If you were to die today, do you know if you would be going to heaven or to hell? Scripture teaches that in order to enter into the kingdom of God, you must be born again (John 3:5, 7). Jesus is the Way, the Truth and Life. There is no other name under heaven whereby men can get saved (Acts 4:12). Choosing or rejecting Jesus Christ will be the most important decision you'll ever make in your life. I hope and pray you choose wisely.
