“Be careful not do you acts of righteousness before men.”  This is a theme that is found several times in the Sermon on the Mount.  It’s made me wonder about this blog.  What are my motives?  Why am I tackling this project?

I really and truly want to add Scripture memory to my life in a much richer way.  At one short point in my life, I was not allowed to have a Bible.  It was during that time I really wanted to dedicate myself to Scripture memory, in case that season or time comes for us in this nation as well.  Several years have come and gone since then and little has been done.  It’s time to change that.

I also really desire to do something, anything to raise funds for Bibles for the persecuted church.  This has been a lifelong desire of mine.  And you know what, in 2 weeks 34 Bibles have sent.  That’s amazing!

Lastly I want to encourage others that memorizing large portions of Scripture is good and doable.  For some reason we stop being intentional about memorization after we leave Sunday School and “grow up.”  We start making excuses like “I’m not very good at memorization,” “My mind doesn’t work that way” or “I’m too old.”  But I don’t think any of those are legitimate for about 98% of us.  We truly memorize every day of our lives whether we realize it or not.  That’s why we have “memories” of different events in our lives.

But I come back to my original reflection, is this blog appropriate in light of these Scriptures?  Because first and foremost is a desire to be obedient to the Word of God, or none of this matters.  At this point, I do not have a ‘check in my Spirit.’  But in all things, I will need to guard the motives of my heart.

So on to Matthew.  This text in chapter 6:16-34 is so appropriate to our times:  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…for the pagans run after all these things.”  This text is “ouchy” if we really stop and think about it.  Perhaps it’s time for a garage sale and some intentional generosity.

Anyway, time to sign off for now.  I enjoyed memorizing this section. Good thoughts to keep in my mind.

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Memorized:

Matt 6:16-34   (Dec 29)