The greatest thing I did in college

I’ve been reflecting on what have been the most influential endeavors during my time at Michigan State, particularly in my relationship with Jesus.

Fellowship on Tuesday nights and Sunday mornings play a vital role in Christian growth. Conferences and retreats have been a wellspring of lifelong friendships. What I am about to say is not in contrast to these beautiful things. If anything, it’s in complement with these things.

Memorizing the Word of God is without a doubt the most important endeavor I undertook in college.

I really can’t say enough about this. And if I’m not intentional, I could go in circles for the next few paragraphs. But I’m willing to do that if it will help you get a glimpse of its benefits.

I will share one way this practice has helped me as a college student and as a young man: Memorizing Scripture has been monumental in my endeavor to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness on a campus that is submersed in its antithesis.

I’ve experienced firsthand the sufficiency of the Bible in living a life of eternal significance (2 Peter 1:3). Reading the Bible is important, but memorizing these Words takes your spirituality to a whole new level. Your thinking slowly and surely becomes aligned with God’s.

When I’m tempted to lust or lie or spew out frustration, it’s infinitely more powerful for me to declare Matthew 5:8 or 1 Corinthians 6:18 over my situation than utter any scrap of human insight. Like  1 Corinthians 2:4-5 says, our faith does not rest in human wisdom but in the power of God.

It’s not legalistic; it’s taking God’s Word at face value. Eternal, majestic, soul-saving, life-giving, unchanging, sovereign.

Do you want to be more Christ-like? Memorize Romans 8. Do you need ammunition to fight your addiction to pornography? Memorize Psalm 119:1-9-11. Do you want to love people sacrificially? Memorize 1 Corinthians 13. If you want to see the world through the Creator’s eyes, then memorize Scripture. I really can’t overemphasize it. I literally want to jump through the screen and beg you to do this.

Your knowledge of God’s Word and your capacity to fight sin has a direct correlation.

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 hear that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:9-11)

Jesus did it, too. He fought Satan’s temptation by declaring God’s Word over the present circumstance (Matthew 4:1-11). If the Son of God responds to the king of Hell by proclaiming God’s Word, who are we to think we can fight this fight in any other way?

If Colossians 1:16-17 is true, which it is, then we will never reach our full Christ-exalting potential unless God’s truth is central in all we do.

When you store God’s Word in your mind, you are tattooing the most pure source of truth into the epicenter of your existence. My dear brothers and sisters, memorize the Bible, please. It will revolutionize the way you think, love, and interact with others. Don’t leave your devotionals in the morning without memorizing at least one verse. It’s the most pure source of truth you will encounter on this side of eternity.

Your Friend, D.Kim
Acts 20:24
FTM