I can remember my address - but not a bible verse

"I'm not one of those people who can remember bible verses."

Wait, not so fast. This is often an evasive way of saying, "I haven't really tried to commit any bible verses to memory."

You might be genuinely challenged by memory loss. In my age group of 65 and older, as many as 40% of us begin noticing some natural decrease in memory capacity. "It's right at the tip of my tongue," until someone fills in the gap of the particular word or name we were searching for.  Dementia and Alzheimer's disease are progressively - and heart breakingly - worse.

But we're not all diagnosed or over 65, and most people can remember what we want to and choose to. You might be surprised by the number of words and characters you can automatically access on demand (remember).

First, though, why even bother to memorize a bible verse or two?  Because...it's a living resource to encourage others with positive words from God ("God loves you!"  "Where does it say God loves me?"). It's a way of drawing strength and peace in our own struggles (Psalm 23, "He restores my soul"). In our  current cultural climate, it's an absolute necessity to provide true references to what God has taught us ("God sent his son, not to condemn the world, but to save the world through him").

How much "memory" do you need? 

"Repent and Believe" Mark 1:15.   4 words!  + 3 digits to included Gospel reference

With just those 22 characters of memory you can explain what Jesus taught as the heart of his ministry 2,000 years ago. 

"God is Love" 1John 4:8    4 words! 19 characters to reassure someone that God loves them.

"All have sinned" Romans 3:23   4 words!  22 characters to describe our shared condition and need for mercy and redemption. It's not "us" judging "them." We're all in this together.

"He saved us" Titus 3:5    4 words!  16 characters to begin the conversation of Jesus' redemptive role. There are many more verses like this, including those that mention Grace, redemption, mercy and forgiveness.

Where are you going to find spare memory like that?  "I'm not one of those people who can remember bible verses...."

Your home or apartment address including zip code is 40 to 50 letters and numbers. Similar effort to several of those verses and that's just one address!

A phone number is 10 digits, if you know at least 2 phone numbers, you have the capacity to commit those sample verses to memory with extra to spare.  Computer passwords are required to be 8 or more digits.   Three passwords gets you the words of Jesus. Birthdays, depending on the month, 13 or more characters. Movie titles,  restaurant names, web sites....you can quickly see that you're fully able to commit to memory those things you find important.

And here's a short cut - a memory saving device of sorts:

Select a few entire passages of scripture by book name and chapter number. There's no need to remember entire strings of words knowing you can find the chapter online or on your smart phone. Just remember the "location" and it's main purpose in your memory.

Acts 10   Peter summarizes for new believers the role and purpose of Christ's salvation

Psalms 23, 100 and 111   Navigate to them and read them aloud for encouragement and refreshment

Matthew 28   has Jesus' "final instructions" for sharing his Gospel throughout then world!

Matthew 5   is Jesus comprehensive "Sermon on the mount"

"I'm not one of those people who can remember bible verses...."  Memory is one of those remarkable gifts God has given us.  Let's take time and effort to apply it to His purpose. For those of you who can remember new movie titles, passwords, birthdays and addresses...you are living vessels for the Good News of Jesus! 

Psalm 119:11 "I have stored what you have said in my heart."

What do you believe?