Try the Deep Cuts of Scripture
I like music of all kinds. From classical and bluegrass to jazz fusion, music finds a happy home in my ears. One of my favorite ways to explore material is through streaming platforms. Most of these services have an “Essentials” playlist of various artists that features their most popular tunes. I tend to listen to these tracks first. Then, if I like what I hear, I will try out a “Deep Cuts” playlist, which showcases an artist’s more obscure pieces. It is so rewarding to explore those tunes. I often find hidden gems.
Consider Scripture memory in the same way. Of course, we want to memorize the Bible’s greatest hits. Passages like Psalm 23, Romans 8, The Lord’s Prayer, and The Armor of God should be hidden in the heart of every Christian. However, because “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16), we must not relegate ourselves to the “Essentials” only. As we mature in the spiritual discipline of Bible memory, we need to explore the “Deep Cuts” of Scripture. The Holy Spirit has something to say and teach in every verse. Our souls will be nourished when we commit these more obscure passages to memory.
How do you begin to memorize the “Deep Cuts” of Scripture? I would offer two suggestions. First, consider memorizing a whole book of the Bible. When you work on an entire book, you deal not only with the highlights but also with the parts that are less well-known. Philippians is a great place to start if you’ve never attempted a book of the Bible. Yes, this epistle has quite an “Essentials” playlist that many Christians know and love. Philippians 1:6, 2:5-11, and 4:6-7 have challenged and comforted memorizers over the centuries, but Paul’s epistle has much more than these highlights that are so famous.
Take Philippians 1:20, for instance. “As it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.” The apostle expresses his desire that Christ might be glorified in his life whether he lived or died. That verse became my life verse a few years ago when I memorized Philippians. I would have missed it had I not explored the “Deep Cuts” by committing the entire letter to my heart.
Second, consider SMF’s Bible memory course SwordGrip Old Testament: Volume 2. This series has the memorizer learn the theme passage from every book of the Bible. That may sound like another “Essentials” playlist, but SwordGrip Old Testament: Volume 2 includes memory verses from the thirteen Minor Prophets. I don’t know about you, but I had relatively neglected the Minor Prophets when it came to Scripture memory. The course afforded me the opportunity to memorize verses from yet unexplored books like Hosea and Nahum. It whetted my appetite to dig into this rather unvisited part of the Bible. After I completed SwordGrip, I went on to commit Habakkuk and Malachi to memory.
As you make Bible memory a consistent part of your daily life, don’t restrict yourself to the “Essentials” tracks only. Try the “Deep Cuts” of Scripture. You won’t regret it. Your exploration will yield a rich harvest of vital Bible truths. You will be blessed with great verses from surprising places.
Click here to find out more about SwordGrip Old Testament: Volume 2.
Consider Scripture memory in the same way. Of course, we want to memorize the Bible’s greatest hits. Passages like Psalm 23, Romans 8, The Lord’s Prayer, and The Armor of God should be hidden in the heart of every Christian. However, because “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16), we must not relegate ourselves to the “Essentials” only. As we mature in the spiritual discipline of Bible memory, we need to explore the “Deep Cuts” of Scripture. The Holy Spirit has something to say and teach in every verse. Our souls will be nourished when we commit these more obscure passages to memory.
How do you begin to memorize the “Deep Cuts” of Scripture? I would offer two suggestions. First, consider memorizing a whole book of the Bible. When you work on an entire book, you deal not only with the highlights but also with the parts that are less well-known. Philippians is a great place to start if you’ve never attempted a book of the Bible. Yes, this epistle has quite an “Essentials” playlist that many Christians know and love. Philippians 1:6, 2:5-11, and 4:6-7 have challenged and comforted memorizers over the centuries, but Paul’s epistle has much more than these highlights that are so famous.
Take Philippians 1:20, for instance. “As it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.” The apostle expresses his desire that Christ might be glorified in his life whether he lived or died. That verse became my life verse a few years ago when I memorized Philippians. I would have missed it had I not explored the “Deep Cuts” by committing the entire letter to my heart.
Second, consider SMF’s Bible memory course SwordGrip Old Testament: Volume 2. This series has the memorizer learn the theme passage from every book of the Bible. That may sound like another “Essentials” playlist, but SwordGrip Old Testament: Volume 2 includes memory verses from the thirteen Minor Prophets. I don’t know about you, but I had relatively neglected the Minor Prophets when it came to Scripture memory. The course afforded me the opportunity to memorize verses from yet unexplored books like Hosea and Nahum. It whetted my appetite to dig into this rather unvisited part of the Bible. After I completed SwordGrip, I went on to commit Habakkuk and Malachi to memory.
As you make Bible memory a consistent part of your daily life, don’t restrict yourself to the “Essentials” tracks only. Try the “Deep Cuts” of Scripture. You won’t regret it. Your exploration will yield a rich harvest of vital Bible truths. You will be blessed with great verses from surprising places.
Click here to find out more about SwordGrip Old Testament: Volume 2.
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