It’s sprinkler maintenance season and I’m scratching my head as I look for the right parts. I’m sure I own several hose clamps because I remember seeing them in an odd place and clumsily tossing them into a storage container somewhere in the garage. Though I can’t remember which container I put them in, I can surely remember where I initially found them. Had I left the blessed hose clamps where they were there instead of doing the responsible thing, I wouldn’t be plotting a trip to the hardware store… which will be followed by another trip to the hardware store. A novice plumber like me always needs at least two trips.
This makes me think of the importance of scripture memory. Consider Jesus who, in the face of intense temptation, quoted scripture a LOT quicker than I can find those hose clamps. The Word made flesh had the Word at his fingertips in a world created and upheld by his own hands. The Psalmist said “your Word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you”, as if intentionally storing the words of scripture in a specific spot so that they’d instantly be available in the time of trial.
If our answer to temptation is “give me a few minutes (scratching head…) because I know a good response is in here someplace…” we will probably lose the battle. We wrestle against powers and dominions that, ironically, have great mastery over the Word of God that would easily overtake us in the battle ahead. The enemy comes at us with twisted versions of scripture that are vaguely twisted in such a way that they sound right.
If a bad guy with a gun breaks into your house, they won’t be likely to give you a few minutes to assemble a defense. If we aren’t so full of Truth that the lie is easily discernible in our weak moments, the lie will sound close enough that the wrong thing looks right because it feels right — irrespective of what is True.
I’ve been trying to memorize the book of Hebrews for a long time. Too long, in fact. I have bible verses in my mind, which is good, except for the fact that more than a few are out of context. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” is a great verse about thriving in any circumstance that leads to our pending death. Paul was inspired to write it to a people whose lives were threatened by their faith, as he himself was in prison and couldn’t help but face the fact that his execution was imminent. I dare not apply it to having enough time to fill my gas tank and get home to dinner before the family starts eating.
I wonder if Jesus laughs at how seriously we take our inconveniences compared to the experience of suffering Christians throughout history… and in our world today.
So… memorize scripture. Memorize scripture that you understand. Memorize the right scripture. And watch what happens the next time you’re assaulted by a slight variation of the Truth.
May you find the Word in you heart faster than I find those pesky hose clamps that are someplace in my garage, hidden from everyone *including* me.
But don’t worry: they’ll show up the moment I buy new ones.