Thoughts on Faithfulness and Scripture Memory

Tom, the children and I are continuing to work on memorizing 1 Timothy. Quite honestly, the children do a much better job than I, but I continue to work on this, knowing that even my slower progress is beneficial. It is helpful for me to have the verses portable, so I can carry them with me wherever I go throughout the house or even when driving in the car. ( I have found some additional resources for scripture memory that I will try to post over the weekend, as time allows.)

One of the verses that has particularly stood out to me as I have meditated on the verses that we are memorizing is this:

1Timothy 1:12 "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service."

What does it mean to be faithful? For a super interesting and encouraging study, look up what God's
Word has to say about the word "faithfulness." You can simply use a concordance, such as is found in the back of most Bibles, but my favorite way to look up lots of verses very quickly, is to use e-Sword. E-Sword is a free, super-powerful Bible study software that you can download here.

For most of us, I believe, faithfulness consists of doing many "mundane" tasks with joy and in a timely manner. Very few of us will ever be well-known, nor will our service be noticed by many other than our family and, of course, the Lord. I am sure though that we are pleasing the Lord as we cook and clean,

serve our husbands, and instruct our children,

managing our homes well. When I gently comfort a child rather than being irritated by the unwelcome interruption to my schedule, this is good. Healthy, frugal meals served with joy are a delight, not only to my family, but, I believe, to the Lord as well.

Consider the following quote that I read on Holy Experience.

No unwelcome tasks become any the less unwelcome by putting them off till tomorrow.

It is only when they are behind us and done, that we begin to find that there is a sweetness to be tasted afterwards,

and that the remembrance of unwelcome duties unhesitatingly done is welcome and pleasant. Accomplished, they are full of blessing, and there is a smile on their faces as they leave us. Undone, they stand threatening and disturbing our tranquility, and hindering our communion with God.

If there be lying before you any bit of work from which you shrink, go straight up to it, and do it at once. The only way to get rid of it is to do it.
Alexander MacLaren (1826-1910) Scottish Preacher

Warmly,

Susan