The very same grace that brings salvation also trains us to live lives that are pleasing to God.
All of God’s disciplinary processes are grounded in His grace—His unmerited and unconditional favor toward us.
We tend to equate discipline with rules and performance standards; God equates it with firm but loving care for our souls.
- JERRY BRIDGES, The Discipline of Grace
Dear Jenna,
You've been my memorizing buddy for so long. I wondered after you went to college if we would continue memorizing the same verses.
No. However, we both are still memorizing.
As I memorize with the believers at Do Not Depart, you’re now memorizing with a group of college friends. God provides.
Here’s what I want you to remember about memorizing:
It’s a discipline.
But it’s also a grace.
It’s something we do.
But it’s more what God does.
Learn the words; rehearse each verse; practice them over and over.
But as you do, stay dependent on grace not only for retention, but also for deep growth. Stay in tune with the direction the Spirit wants to take you with his thoughts.
So as you jump through James, I’ll plod through 1 Peter. (We’re still side-by-side, yes?)
Neither of us will be memorizing to make ourselves better. Not as a legalistic law to keep or a performance to uphold.
But both of us will be memorizing as a discipline of grace, thanking him for even the desire to do so.
As Paul said to the Philippians (scriptures we memorized together!) and then as Jerry Bridges says in The Discipline of Grace:
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6).
Our spiritual growth is not left to our initiative, nor is it dependent upon our wisdom to know in which areas and in which direction we need to grow. Rather, it is God Himself who initiates and superintends our spiritual growth.
I’m glad we’re both continuing to be disciplined by God’s grace. May we learn his words well, use them generously, and thank him always for them.
I love you, sweet daughter,
Mom
P.S.
And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:4...May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
1 Peter 1:2
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Do you have a favorite scripture you’ve memorized?
Please share in the comments.
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