Memorizing Vs. Knowing the Scripture

We are studying Hearing God, by Dallas Willard, at the church I'm serving. It is helping us learn how to become the kind of people who are tuned in to God's voice. One of the key components in becoming the kind of person who hears and recognizes God's speech is to place ones self under the power of Scripture. And the best way to do this, in my opinion, is through the age-old discipline of Scripture memorization.My class has decided to memorize Romans 5:10-11. There are a few ways to go about memorizing bible verses, but not many of them actually affect anything in meaningful ways. Using flash cards, rote memory, repetition, and the like, are all great, and if they work then please use them. I have found a method that has worked marvelously for me. As I study the passage and prayerfully discern its meaning, I also endeavor to do what it says. By doing what it says I am ensuring that I come to know the passage in more than just my brain.

Mark Twain once said, "A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way."

So it is when one study's the Bible, and does what it says. They gain knowledge that goes deep into the soul. This idea, by the way, is seen all over the Bible, but especially in the Psalms.For example: Psalm 119:9-16. How can young people keep their way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; do not let me stray from your commandments. I treasure your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against you. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes. With my lips I declare all the ordinances of your mouth. I delight in the way of your decrees as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts, and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. The person who will keep their way pure will not do so by simply memorizing God's word, the way one memorizes the periodic table. But if they using the Word as a guard, by not straying from it, by treasuring it, by learning it, by declaring it, by delighting in it, by meditating on it, one will essentially "carry the cat by tail" and become what the Word is describing.Perhaps you'd like to memorize Romans 5:10-11 with us; let's start with the first part: "For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son..." How might you grab this passage by the tail? Certainly by meditation and prayer. Maybe you can also treat your enemies (Do any of us really have enemies? How about someone who irritates or annoys you instead?) the same kind of way God treated his. Maybe you'll spend time blessing them, and asking God to do good things for them. Perhaps you will sacrifice so that they can have a good life. Maybe you know something that they need, and you can bless them in secret.If you endeavor to know the Scriptures in this way, you will soon discover that you have memorized it without even directly trying to do so.