Why Parents Should Memorize Scripture

Parents, have you considered what legacy you will leave behind for your children? Have you made preparation for the future? Fathers and mothers plan for their family's future in different ways. Some take out a vast life insurance policy. Others start a college fund while their children are still young. Still others go to a lawyer and create a very precise will to ensure their children receive an inheritance.

 

Those things are not bad in themselves, but they do not last. Each one is subject to moth, decay, and thieves, as Jesus said in Matthew 6:20. Those temporal legacies will not ultimately stand the test of time. Your family needs a spiritual legacy of godliness. Your children should see it in you and learn it from you. You can contribute to this legacy by making a personal commitment to memorize Scripture. 

 

In this blog, we would like to give dads and moms some compelling reasons why they should memorize Scripture.

 

Parents should memorize Scripture personally first of all because...

 

In Deuteronomy 6:7, God commands believing parents to teach their children His commands diligently. Notice the verse that precedes this command:

 

 

God's commands have to be in your heart before they are on your lips. You must hide God's Word in your heart before you can teach your children diligently. If God's Word is not internalized in the parent, it cannot be properly conveyed to the children.

 

One of the best ways to teach someone is by them watching you do it. Your children are more likely to embrace Scripture memorization as a lifestyle when they see you do it.

 

Could your children honestly say, "I want to memorize the Bible because I've watched Daddy or Mommy do it?"

 

None of us are perfect, but as believing parents we should present to our kids a personal example they can imitate. Paul states in Philippians 4:9,

 

 

Did you catch the last words? "The things which you ... saw in me, these do."

 

Paul left a powerful personal example that the church in Philippi could follow. Parents should give this same type of example to their families.

 

It requires sacrifice and hard work, but it's worth it. One of my most moving moments as a parent was to hear my oldest daughter Kennedy pray, "Lord, help me love the Bible like my daddy does." That prayer reinforced that the sacrifice of choosing to spend time in God's Word over other things is worth it.

 

Psalm 128:3 compares children to olive shoots around your table. Your children are little, tender plants. They need protection and care in order to survive and thrive.

 

Your personal spiritual health contributes to the well-being of your children. It has been said that an institution is only as strong as its leaders. Fathers and mothers, you are the leaders in your family. Only when you are stable and strong will your children be stable and strong.

 

Scripture memorization is a vital component in your personal maturity in the Lord. As you consider memorizing the Word, remember that you are contributing not just to your well-being, but to the long-term well-being of your children.

 

Parents, you are your children's primary instructor and discipler about the things of God. Your church has an important role, but you are the primary instrument. You are called to speak the truth into the lives of your children. Solomon commands in Proverbs 1:8,

 

 

Think of all the various occasions you will need to speak wisdom to them. When they are on the verge of making sinful decisions. When they are dealing with the aftermath of sinful decisions. When they are confronted with a culture contradicting a biblical worldview. Into those seasons, a depository of God's Word hidden in the heart will enable you to speak instantly and authoritatively. A truth hidden in your heart and extracted at the right time allows you to maximize your influence on your children for good.

 

Parents, now that you know these powerful reasons for memorizing Scripture, will you embrace the task?