I mentioned last Sunday that we'd be having a memory verse each week during the 40 Days of Community?  Why memorize verses?  The best answer I know to that question is you will be surprised how many times a memorized Bible verse will come to your mind in an "opportune moment."  What I mean by that is you'll be facing a difficult situation and verse you have memorized at some point in your life will come to mind and comfort you, or challenge you, or guide you.  Or someone will ask you for advice, and as your reflecting on their request, a memorized verse will come to mind that is the best advice you can offer in the situation. 

This week's memory verse  has been  “Since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.”Romans 12:5b (NLT) If you participated in a LIFE group you had an additional memory verse:  "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:35 (NLT) The verses are simple, to the point and remind us both that we need each other and that the way the world will know the validity of our walk with Jesus is through our love for ONE ANOTHER!  That isn't just information.  It's the foundation for our life together as Jesus' followers.  Memorizing those two verses will help us remember WHY we come together as Jesus' followers, and HOW we can help others become followers, too!

Imagine if each of us memorized two verses a week for an entire year.  That would be 104 verses of Scripture available to our minds and hearts for guiding us and others, for challenging and comforting us and others to enjoy God's grace and to extend His glory!  If we continued that practice for ten years, we'd know more than a 1,000 Bible verses.  I once met a pastor who had memorized the entire New Testament.  I was amazed.  I was fourteen at the time.  The reason I remember that is when I asked Him how long it took him to do it, he told me it took fourteen years.  The man was intelligent, but he wasn't a rocket scientist.  I remember thinking at the time, "I could do that."  The sad truth is I COULD HAVE done that, but I didn't.  I've now had 40 years to do what took the man 14, and I haven't done it, because WE BECOME (and do!) WHAT WE'RE COMMITTED TO IN LIFE!

A commitment to memorizing AND living God's word is a worthy commitment.  God uses His word to transform us when we read it, learn it, reflect on it and live it.  The starting point is reading and learning.  I hope you have taken the time--or will take the time today to memorize this weeks memory verses in our 40 Days of Community! 

 See you in worship tomorrow at 8:45 or 10:15 at the South Butler Primary School in Saxonburg!  Remember:  We NEED each other!

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, Thank You for giving us Your written word to teach and correct us, to show us who you are and who we are called to be.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we may learn and live Your word--a verse at a time--today!  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.