In the Beginning (John1:1-12 KJV)

 

There's a lot of nostalgia for me when reading John 1:1-12 specifically in the KJV.  It brings me way back to my growing up years when we attended the Gospel Tent every summer, whether we wanted to attend or not.

My siblings and I were expected to memorize Bible verses.  Depending on our ages we'd start out with three to four word verses per day and progress to longer ones as we grew older.  Eventually, in the teen years, we were given chapters, or major portions of chapters to learn.

These were always from the Gospel of John and the King James Version (KJV).  We'd have fourteen days to learn and recite.  There were prizes to motivate us.  The best prize that we didn't realize at the time was getting God's word into our minds, at least, if not our hearts.

This morning as I read John 1:1-12 so many years later, and so happened to do so in the KJV, it brought back all those memories.  I challenged myself then to see if I could still recite these verses from memory.

Well, we all know that God never fails but we human beings do ... However, I did manage to stumble through, remembering quite a bit.

These Scriptures that are able to make one wise unto salvation (see 2 Timothy 3:15) are indeed also ...

"... profitable for teaching, reproof, correction and for training in righteousness"             (2 Timothy 3:16 ESV).

This is what our parents were building into us.  That is, when we would let the Scriptures travel down to our hearts and allow the Holy Spirit to use God's Word in our lives to do just that.

This is a precious gift any Christian parent can give to their children.  They say, and I can attest to the fact, that the things learned in childhood, such as  Bible memorization, will stay with a person much better throughout than what we, as adults, try so hard to inculcate.

I really do find it so very difficult to memorize things nowadays in my ahem, more mature years.  So if you are younger, do take advantage of your fewer years and make memorizing God's Word a priority.  In my opinion, you won't regret it.

A parting Bible verse from Psalm 119:11 - perhaps you've memorized this one - says,

"I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." (ESV).

I believe this is a psalm of David and he's talking with God.  Can we say this to Him too?

The KJV says, "hid" instead of "stored up" but both translations are meaningful.  People usually store up and often hide what is extra precious and valuable to them.

From the beginning years of our lives and into adulthood, just think of how much storage one would have.  And if one meditates on it day and night, just think of how God's Word would have trained us in righteousness if we have also taken heed to His words (see Psalm 1:2).

God is our Creator and He has been there from the beginning until now and will be forever.  God and His Word are treasures to treasure that will never diminish in worth.  Let's treasure the Word and His words.

                                          ~ ERC  October 2025 ~

Based on John 1:1-12 KJV.

Sing, Wonderful Words of Life, along with Joslin Grove Choral.