Submitted by Jim Garner
Growing up I had a father figure in my life that had a lot
of life experience and wisdom. He was retired from the U.S. Air Force after
serving almost thirty years and living all over the world. He taught me manners, respect for others and
authority, the importance of making smart decisions, “opportunity only knocks
once”, and the value of reading my Bible. But there’s another thing he taught
me as a boy that has never left my mind and I’m glad. It has helped me handle
responsibilities through school and now into adulthood as a spouse, parent, and
pastor. It was something he learned as a young airman while working at one of
his military bases as he talked to an older man who was a vendor there. The
vendor’s name was Red. My mentor called him Red the Candy Man.
One day Red and my friend were having a conversation at the
vending stand. As they were talking something about my friend’s schedule and
responsibilities that day came up which led to a bit of advice that impacted my
friend and would one day help me. It was a simple piece of advice but when
shared with the depth of poetic language has resonated deep in my mind all
these years. Red told my friend this:
“The faintest pencil mark is more indelible than the most retentive
human mind.”
In other words: WRITE IT DOWN. With everything going on in
our busy lives and our minds being fed things off social media, radio/television,
and people around us, it is so easy to be distracted and lose track of what we
are supposed to remember or do. So now all these years later I still haven’t
forgotten Red’s advice that he gave my friend. It’s something I’ve shared with
my kids, co-workers, and interns.
You might think that this is practical but not very
spiritual. It is very practical but I also think there is a spiritual parallel
when it comes to having the Word of God in our lives – spiritual truth written
across our minds and hearts. The Bible is one of God’s greatest gifts to us as
His Word and revelation to us. It’s history but it’s also “His story” to us as
we learn from His work through history in the lives of people known as Israel
and now the Church.
So what does the Bible say about itself?
Psalm 119:9-11 > “How can a young man
keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I
seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word
in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (ESV)
Hebrews 4:12 > “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (ESV)
Jesus himself memorized Scripture having quoted from
twenty-four Old Testament around 180 times. It was valuable in his ministry
when it came to dealing with Satan’s temptations in Matthew 4:1-11 and when he
was ministering or teaching others.
Colossians 3:16 > “Let the word of
Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,
singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts
to God.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 > “All Scripture is
breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction,
and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete,
equipped for every good work.”
Having God’s word written on our hearts also assists us when
we have to defend our faith in a challenging culture that seems opposed to
Christianity at every turn.
I Peter 3:15 > “…but in your hearts
honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to
anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with
gentleness and respect.”
Going back to after the Ten Commandments were given and as a
part of the Law the instructions to the people of Israel included this for
parents raising children:
Deuteronomy 6:6-9 > “And these words
that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them
diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house,
and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You
shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between
your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your
gates.”
There’s no doubt that there’s value and actually command
when it comes to “writing it (Scripture) down” on the tablets of our heart and
lives. I guess Red the Candy Man knew what he was talking about it. Won’t you
join me in writing down Scripture, reading Scripture, and memorizing Scripture
in our spiritual journey? I can’t wait to see what God does with that in our
life, our church, and in this culture in need of change.
