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Psalm 119:9-11 says “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Thy word. With my whole heart I seek Thee; let me not wander from Thy commandments. I have laid up Thy word in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” The psalmist was definitely a fan of memorizing the Torah (the Old Testament saints didn’t have the New Testament).

When I became a Christian in college, I started getting involved with the Navigators. The Navigators were not just focused on seeing people become Christians. They were heavily vigilant toward making disciples. Their real purpose was in grounding men and women in the Word of God.  As such, there was a major push to begin memorizing the Bible. We (Cheryl and I) obtained copies of the Topical Memory System (TMS: a series of sixty Bible verses) dealing with witnessing and living life. We completed the TMS and then started a lifelong project of memorizing every verse that the Holy Spirit laid on our hearts. I cannot tell you how many times we have experienced difficult circumstances in life and the Holy Spirit brings a memorized verse or passage to mind that provides peace or direction before we even have time to go to the Bible or seek Godly counsel.  

Scripture memory has been one of the biggest blessings since coming to know Christ. I would highly recommend memorizing scripture. John 1:1 says “In the beginning was the Word as the Word was with God and the Word was God.” When we memorize scripture, we are literally taking Christ into our lives. God uses memorized scripture for many purposes. These include: responding to people in a godly way, controlling anger, accidents, fearful situations, sin, pushing to continue growing in Christ, connecting scriptural passages, praying scripture, cultivating trust in God, Memorized scripture is easy to meditate on. The Hebrew word for meditate means to think on, to muse, thoughtful deliberation, studying…

Deuteronomy 8:1-3 says “All the commandment which I command you this day you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord swore to give to your fathers. ² And you shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments, or not. ³ And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know; that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but that man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.” Jesus quoted the last half of verse three to Satan when he was being tempted in the wilderness. Quoting scripture to Satan and his emissaries stops them clean in their tracks. It is important to memorize scripture because it constantly feeds our spiritual nature just as manna fed the physical Hebrews during their 40 years in the wilderness. Memorizing scripture is another form of gathering manna. It is work with untold benefits.

Scripture memory is also a way of countering temptation. Satan shutters when people memorize scripture. He cannot stand before the Word of God.

One hike that keeps coming back to the Young family is the 10 mile trek to the top of Hermit’s Peak. Our first trip involved a backpacking trip where we experienced snow and a torrential rainstorm as we crossed the Gallinas River 27 times. That is a story we continue to tell.

As usual our hike up the mountain involved a beautiful New Mexico fall day. Our experience with the peak goes back close to 30 years now but it’s a trek we continue to do given the magnificent views.

This time, we dug a little bit deeper into the history behind Hermit’s Peak. The story of Juan Maria de Agostini is intertwined with the peak. Agostini lived in a cave some 250 feet below the top of the peak for a little over 5 years. He was an Italian who was born around 1800 to a noble family and was educated and multilingual. Legend has it that he may have studied for the priesthood, but chose to wander the world instead. After living in a cave in Kansas, he joined a wagon trail headed for New Mexico in around 1862. Agostini walked the entire 550 miles from Kansas to New Mexico.

After arriving in New Mexico, Agostini chose to live in a cave on the Peak. At the time the peak was known as Cerro del Tecolote or Peak of the Owl. Amazingly, the hermit lived in the cave beneath the peak for over five years, even in the winter! Visitors to the peak would bring him food and he got water from Hermit Spring. While we were at the peak on this day, we stopped at the spring to reflect on Agostini and the fact that he got water from this spring that still exists today. Even after 130 years!

As Patti and I made our way across the flat top of the peak, our trail was marked by various handmade crosses along the way. At the end of the 19^th century, a local organization created in his honor, the Sociedad del Ermitano, or the Society of the Hermit consisted of 62 members. Their primary purpose was to make the long trek to the peak to pray and erect crosses. Today only a handful of members keep the tradition alive. As they make the pilgrimage to the peak, they perform various rites including the Stations of the Cross which commemorate the death of Christ. Although Agostini was never part of an established parish, he chose to model himself after St. Anthony of Qozhaya, a third century Maronite Christian who spent 20 years in solitude and then founded the first Christian monastery.

Every Sunday, Agostini would walk to Las Vegas, New Mexico from the cave for mass. So impressed with his religious faithfulness, people from the area began making pilgrimages to the hermit’s cave. They returned with stories about how the hermit cured them of various ailments or once made a spring appear by striking the earth with his staff.

As we sat at the edge of the peak, we gazed out across the vast, wide open landscape of eastern New Mexico. The same path that Agostini had taken from Kansas along the Santa Fe Trail was there below us. It was incredible to think that the hermit lived on this peak, gazing out at these same views over 130 years ago. And that he had made such a lasting impression on locals in the area, that they continue to make the pilgrimage that their families had for generations.

To understand the incredible faithfulness of this man was somewhat humbling. Agostini had dedicated his entire life to praying and studying God’s word. Total submission to his creator.

Recently, I listened to a message by Pastor Tim Keller on the Love of Jesus. He described how Judas Iscariot had the best training, the best bible study group, and the best pastor and mentor anyone could ever have. At the same time, being a disciple of Christ, Judas had likely saved many people by passing along the message of Christ. However, in the end, it was clear he did not know Christ nor did he have the Holy Spirit dwelling in him.

Although, we cannot say for sure whether Agostini knew Christ and was embraced by the Holy Spirit, his dedication to the Lord was nothing short of miraculous. And a tremendous example of giving yourself entirely to the Lord in meditation and prayer. Here on this magnificent, lonely peak in the southwestern corner of the Pecos Wilderness, Patti and I were able to once again trace the steps of this eccentric and lonely hermit. And in doing so, were able to be inspired by his dedication.

Without the Holy Spirit working in our lives, can we really call ourselves Christians? Christianity has rules and traditions that are unmistakably unique to the Christian faith. However, without the power of the Holy Spirit working through us to minister and share the gospel, our faith is meaningless and only an empty shell of what we could be doing in the name of Christ.

Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. – 2 Corinthians 5:5

II Timothy 3:16 says, “All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness.” Jesus and His disciples were Jewish and Jesus came to the Jewish people.  (The only written “Word” available at the time of Jesus ministry and during the formation of the early Church was the Old Testament). The New Testament condenses the gospel from the Old Testament so it becomes straight forward to behold the gospel. Jesus made it very clear during His ministry that He was sent just to the Jewish people therefore, Jesus’ teaching was focused on the Jewish people and their culture. The Old Testament is much longer than the New Testament for a reason. Many subjects in the Old Testament are described in much greater depth than in the New Testament. If we ignore the Jewish context, we will miss many of the truths Jesus taught.

 When attempting to read the whole Bible, there are many reading plans available from a broad range of organizations. 

Developing your own plan is also an option. It is not difficult to prepare your own plan but there are a few issues to consider: 1) It is important to prepare a plan that maintains interest. 2) It is important to read extra Chapters regularly so you do not feel the pressure of getting behind. There are a total of 1176 chapters in the Bible, 929 chapters in the Old Testament and 247 in the New Testament. Since there are 365 days in year and you now know how many chapters there are, it is easy to formulate a personal plan. I believe that the Bible books were placed in the order they are in for a reason although there are Bibles with the books in historical order. In addition, a good Study Bible is helpful and something like Haley’s Bible Handbook will add to the enjoyment. With the exception of the first 17 books, the books are by no means in historical order.

I have been reading the Bible yearly for over 50 years. The first time I read it, it was hard but Cheryl and I were doing it together which provided some extra motivation. After I read the first book of the New Testament, the Holy Spirit prompted my interest and I couldn’t quit. The next year I read the whole Bible three times and since then I have read the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice nearly every year. May God prompt your interest to begin reading the whole (Bible) counsel of God regularly. The Bible is infinitely deep, it never gets boring no matter how many times you read it. Psalms 119:43-47 says,:

“⁴³ And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
    for my hope is in thy ordinances.
⁴⁴ I will keep thy law continually,
    for ever and ever;
⁴⁵ and I shall walk at liberty,
    for I have sought thy precepts.
⁴⁶ I will also speak of thy testimonies before kings,
    and shall not be put to shame;
⁴⁷ for I find my delight in thy commandments,
    which I love.

(All quoted verses are from the Revised Standard Version) from which I have completed all scripture memory

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

Ps. 119: 108

 Exodus 16 describes the provision of manna while the Hebrews were wandering in the wilderness. The manna was like fine flakes on the ground and was left after the dew evaporated. God gave the manna as a means of testing the people to ensure that they walk according to in His instruction. The people were required to gather the manna daily. It did not last from day to day thus they had to go out daily. Gathering the manna required much work. People had to go out, bend over and gather the flakes of manna over a long period of time daily. Exodus 16:16-18 says, “¹⁶ This is what the Lord has commanded, ‘Gather of it every man as much as he should eat; you shall take an omer apiece according to the number of persons each of you has in his tent.’” ¹⁷ The sons of Israel did so, and some gathered much and some little. ¹⁸ When they measured it with an omer, he who had gathered much had no excess, and he who had gathered little had no lack; every man gathered as much as he should eat.

This passage enunciates two separate principles: 1) God gave the Hebrews the gift of manna to feed them. However, obtaining the food required work and discipline. The manna was a physical substance. In a similar way, God has given us the Bible for our spiritual sustenance. We must go to the word daily and gather our spiritual food (manna) from the Word of God. It is work to gather that food and requires obedience and time. 2) God knows how much time we have available to spend with Him. Note that he who gathered an abundance had enough and he who gathered little had enough to meet the needs of their family.

Notice also the manna covered the ground. In gathering the manna it would have been easy to gather dirt too.  As you read, make sure that what you gather has its foundation in the Bible, not in any worldly idea coming from outside the text of Scripture. Some people might say that any sort of devotional quiet time is equivalent to reading and meditating on Scripture.  If it’s not grounded in the Word of God, it is not sufficient. Psalm 40:7 says, “Behold I come, in the volume of the book it is written of Me.”  When reading the entire Bible we are exposed to the entire council of God. We need God’s entire council!

Conclusion

Hebrews: 4:12, 13 says “For the word of God is living and active sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit of joints and morrow, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before Him no creature is hidden but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. God is pleased with our obedience but also very unpleased with disobedience. Our regular time in His Word pleases Him greatly. It should be our goal to know and understand His word to the best of our ability while we’re on earth.