Psalm 119 - 1 - Aleph - Joy and Law? (3)

"(Aleph) Joyful are people of integrity, 
who follow the instructions of the LORD.
Joyful are those who obey His laws 
and search for Him with all their hearts. 
They do not compromise with evil, 
and they walk only in His paths. 
You have charged us 
to keep Your commandments carefully.
Oh, that my actions 
would consistently reflect Your decrees!
Then I will not be ashamed 
when I compare my life with Your commands.
As I learn Your righteous regulations, 
I will thank You by living as I should!
I will obey Your decrees. 
Please don't give up on me!" 
(Psalm 119: 1-8)  

Hi, Mrs. Kurtz.
     You mentioned that true happiness comes only from obeying God's rules, not independence/ rebellion. Verses 1-3 call people "blessed," but does that really mean they are joyful? Verse 6 says that heeding the commandments prevents being "put to shame," but again I question the earthly (note: I said earthly, not eternal) happiness of anyone who abides by God's rules. Obeying God may benefit people in their relationship with Him and their life in heaven, but I still think that their lives right now may suffer. My problem in life is that I want everything now; I can't wait for anything. I want "independence" right now in every aspect of life, but I can't do things my own way and follow God's will.
    Can you explain verse 8? Does it imply that if a person does not "obey God's decrees" that they will be "forsaken"?
     This passage has been deeply frustrating. I know this is very juvenile of me, but I HATE rules/guidelines. There will be times in school where I will PURPOSELY ignore rubrics because I want to do the project my own way. Sometimes I will take a lower grade if it means that the work was done the way I wanted to do it. I don't like the dress code, or the restrictions on where you can eat lunch, or hall passes. Recently rules at home have become more of a discussion than a set limit...if I have a good point/reason to do something or be out late, my parents will let me (it wasn't always that way). I like the independence and flexibility of doing what I want, and I dislike that the Bible tells me otherwise. I am also really conflicted about the legalism in this passage. It makes me think of the question of having a relationship with God vs. simply following rules. What are your thoughts? Am I taking this out of context?

Dear friend,
     Yes, I do think that the verse indicates that the person who follows God's law will be joyful! He (or She) will know and experience true joy. The word that is often translated "blessed" (the NLT used "joyful") means "happiness, blessedness". Some interesting word studies/explanations can be found through Bible Hub and Bible Gateway, and many other sites on the internet.
     As I've said before, the world (and its views) has corrupted/twisted God's Word, exalting "self" and the fulfillment of any and all desires. After a time, we cannot even conceive of anything but "our way," and the idea of any "restraints" sits with us none too well. We crave what is wrong, and we spurn what is right.
     From our discussions, I know that you're not a fan of the book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. This story, however (and the others in the series), communicates many profound truths in very simple ways. I love this quote; can you see how it applies to our discussion?

"there's nothing that spoils the taste of 

good, ordinary food 

half so much as the memory of 

bad magic food."

     I need to be sure to state that the Bible does NOT teach that the believer will be without troubles or sorrows. The Bible is not a good luck charm, nor are the precepts found within some sort of "formula" for happiness. The happiness of the Bible, rather, is a happiness that extends beyond situations, and in spite of circumstances. There is joy in the RELATIONSHIP, knowing the Lord and living in fellowship with Him.
     This discussion is similar to some of the conversations we've had about marriage; entering into a relationship is to take a leap of faith--trusting the one to whom you are committing yourself. Our relationship with the Lord is this way; we trust Him, leaping into His love, His care, His way, because we know that He is good, He is merciful, He is holy.
   

"God also bound Himself with an oath, so that those who received the promises could be perfectly sure that He would never change His mind. So God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary." 

(Hebrews 6: 17-19, but remember to read the full context)

     

• What drew you to Christ?
• How does "hope" affect a situation? How does "hopelessness" affect a situation?
• What does it mean that the hope in this passage is an "anchor for our souls"?
• In which relationships in your life can you "leap" because you know the character of the person and can trust him/her fully?

"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves His children, too. We know we love God's children if we love God and obey His commandments. Loving God means keeping His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those that believe that Jesus is the Son of God." (1 John 5: 1-5)

I know that I've said this before, but seek the Lord. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. Trust Him. Take the leap. I continue to pray for you.

Heavenly Father, We know that You are good, merciful and holy. Yet we waver in our faith, hesitating to trust You fully. We know what Your Word says, but our rebellious and stubborn hearts pursue our own desires. We ask You to help us to see, to understand, to trust, to love, to obey. We want to know the joy of walking with You! 

This is an old hymn. I shared a link to listen to it with you here, and I copied the lyrics below, because the words are powerful. I pray that you will be encouraged and strengthened by them.

Just as I am, without one plea, 
But that Thy blood was shed for me.
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am, and waiting not,
To rid my soul of one dark blot.
To Thee Whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am, though tossed about,
With many a conflict, many a doubt.
Fightings within and fears without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
because Thy promise, I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Psalm 119 - 1 - Aleph - Joy and Law? (2)

"(Aleph) Joyful are people of integrity, 
who follow the instructions of the LORD.
Joyful are those who obey His laws 
and search for Him with all their hearts. 
They do not compromise with evil, 
and they walk only in His paths. 
You have charged us 
to keep Your commandments carefully.
Oh, that my actions 
would consistently reflect Your decrees!
Then I will not be ashamed 
when I compare my life with Your commands.
As I learn Your righteous regulations, 
I will thank You by living as I should!
I will obey Your decrees. 
Please don't give up on me!" 
(Psalm 119: 1-8)  

Hi, Mrs. Kurtz.
     You mentioned that true happiness comes only from obeying God's rules, not independence/ rebellion. Verses 1-3 call people "blessed," but does that really mean they are joyful? Verse 6 says that heeding the commandments prevents being "put to shame," but again I question the earthly (note: I said earthly, not eternal) happiness of anyone who abides by God's rules. Obeying God may benefit people in their relationship with Him and their life in heaven, but I still think that their lives right now may suffer. My problem in life is that I want everything now; I can't wait for anything. I want "independence" right now in every aspect of life, but I can't do things my own way and follow God's will.
    Can you explain verse 8? Does it imply that if a person does not "obey God's decrees" that they will be "forsaken"?
     This passage has been deeply frustrating. I know this is very juvenile of me, but I HATE rules/guidelines. There will be times in school where I will PURPOSELY ignore rubrics because I want to do the project my own way. Sometimes I will take a lower grade if it means that the work was done the way I wanted to do it. I don't like the dress code, or the restrictions on where you can eat lunch, or hall passes. Recently rules at home have become more of a discussion than a set limit...if I have a good point/reason to do something or be out late, my parents will let me (it wasn't always that way). I like the independence and flexibility of doing what I want, and I dislike that the Bible tells me otherwise. I am also really conflicted about the legalism in this passage. It makes me think of the question of having a relationship with God vs. simply following rules. What are your thoughts? Am I taking this out of context?

Dear friend,
     What a pleasure to read your questions and comments! I think that you have identified many of the concerns that people have but often do not voice. You have also put your finger on one of the most difficult aspects of a walk of faith: surrendering "independence". Often we feel that we are too restricted by the confines of Scripture; we don't want to lose our "freedom" to "legalism".
      What is God's law? Why do we have it? God's law shows us who He is, what is right, what is wrong. Inwardly we know right and wrong (Romans 2:14-15); yet we love to test the limits, reach for the wrong; there is pleasure in feeling like we're being "naughty," getting away with things. We want "more" and we don't like feeling like we're being left out of something (Genesis 3:1-7).
     Is there a difference between obeying God's laws and following "rules"? Is obedience/following rules always "legalism"? This may be oversimplification, but I think that the difference is in the motivation: why are we doing what we are doing?
     In earthly relationships, there are often rules to follow. These rules may be designed to protect us, to shape our behavior, or to enforce conformity to a certain "code". Often these are "negotiable" as we grow and develop the ability to make decisions. Thus, parents' rules become more flexible as their children approach adulthood.
     Are there any "non-negotiable" rules in a home or a school? Would you want a parent or a school administrator to say that ANYTHING is okay? Murder? Theft? Rape? Lying? Certainly not! There are some lines that we do not want people to cross; though, those lines are becoming more obscured all the time; when people reject God, they reject His definition of right and wrong. Words are redefined, and actions are justified. "In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes" (Judges 21:25)
     As this blog is getting long, I am going to end here with some Scriptures and some contemplation questions. However, I know that I haven't fully answered all your questions yet; I will address them.

Parable of the two sons: Matthew 21: 28-32

Parable of the three servants (parable of the talents): Matthew 25: 14-30

• What drives your obedience to your parents? your school authorities? Are they different? Why?
• What is the "motivation" that makes the difference between obedience and legalism?
• At graduation this year, the speaker told the graduates that they should follow their own "moral compass," and that their "moral compass" would change over time (until they became old and "inflexible"). Do you see any problems with her ideas?

A note about verse 8: this theme will come up again in Psalm 119, and throughout Scripture. This is not an assignation of condemnation for disobeying a particular command one time. On the contrary, this is a lifestyle choice: consistently rejecting God's decrees is to reject God Himself. It is to spurn the relationship, to make "me" more important than God.

"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves His children, too. We know we love God's children if we love God and obey His commandments. Loving God means keeping His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those that believe that Jesus is the Son of God." (1 John 5: 1-5)

I'm praying that you will find your answers and find peace; seek the Lord.

Heavenly Father, We thank You for Your Word, and for teaching us that joy comes from obedience, not from having our own way. Will You guide us as we study this Psalm? We want to know You, to love you, and to walk in Your ways.  

Psalm 119 - 3 - Gimel - Living Righteously in an Unrighteous Land

"(Gimel) Be good to Your servant
that I may live and obey Your Word.
Open my eyes to see
the wonderful truths in Your instructions.
I am only a foreigner in the land.
Don't hide Your commands from me!
I am always overwhelmed
with a desire for Your regulations.
You rebuke the arrogant;
those who wander from Your commands are cursed.
Don't let them scorn and insult me,
for I have obeyed Your laws.
Even princes sit and speak against me, 
but I will meditate on Your decrees.
Your laws please me;
they give me wise advice." 
(Psalm 119: 17-24)  

Dear friend,

Notes from "Gimel": Living Righteously in an Unrighteous Land:

• The Psalmist asks for God's blessing, so that he can live and obey His Word;
• The Psalmist asks for God's illumination, so that he can see (and know, understand, apply) the wonderful truths contained in His Word;
• The Psalmist admits to being a "foreigner"--an outcast rejected by others, and the cause seems to be his commitment to God's Word; 
• The Psalmist remembers God's judgment: those who reject God's Word will themselves be rejected by God;
• The Psalmist asks for God's protection (or advocacy) in regard to their common enemy: those who would reject God's Word;
• The Psalmist reiterates his commitment to God's Word in all situations/circumstances; he will meditate on it, use it as his guide, and find his joy in it. 

     Here we face an uncomfortable truth: if we love God's Word and live according to it, we will have a common enemy--those who reject God's Word and insist on living their own way. However, even as "foreigners" among those around us, we will have joy when we make God's Word the focus of our minds, hearts, and lives.

     Does that unsettle you as much as it does me? Who wants to be considered an "outsider"? Are we willing to follow the Lord, at all costs? 

"But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught by the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work." (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

 Let us continue to pray for each other, that we might love the Word of God to this degree!

Heavenly Father, We thank You for Your Word! We want to meditate on it and to live by it, even when it costs us greatly. Will You teach us and guide us? Will You help us to know You more? And, in knowing You more, will You help us to love You and Your Word?

Psalm 119 - 2 - Beth - The Value of God's Word

"(Beth) How can a young person stay pure?
By obeying Your Word.
I have tried hard to find You--
don't let me wander from Your commands.
I have hidden Your Word in my heart, 
that I might not sin against You.
I praise You, O LORD; 
teach me Your decrees.
I have recited aloud all the regulations 
You have given us.
I have rejoiced in Your laws 
as much as in riches.
I will study Your commandments 
and reflect on Your ways.
I will delight in Your decrees 
and not forget Your Word." 
(Psalm 119: 9-16)  

Dear friend,

Notes from "Beth": What is the value of God's Word?

• By obeying God's Word we can keep our way pure;
• Through God's Word we can find Him;
• The Word can keep us from wandering from His commands;
• Knowing God's Word (planting it deeply in our hearts and minds) can keep us from sin;
• Valuing God's Word leads to praise for God, and a desire to know His Word even more;
• By treasuring God's Word we will be joyful, reflective people;
• By studying God's Word we will not forget it. 

     The Psalmist is clear: it is of utmost importance that we look to God's Word, learn God's Word, live according to God's Word, and make God's Word such a priority that we remember it. Remembering isn't simply a matter of being able to quote it, but as it is remembered in our hearts, we will live according to it. As we are transformed INSIDE by God's Word, our lives will reflect it on the OUTSIDE.

Again we see two themes that we observed in the first stanza (Aleph):

     The Law of the Lord brings rejoicing and delight. God's Word is not burdensome, and His commands are not stifling or restrictive. Rather, His Word brings freedom, and in freedom there is joy. The world's viewpoint is backwards. Submission and obedience are not negative concepts, at lest not when applied in a proper context.

     God's Word is described using multiple expressions: decrees, commands, regulations, ways, laws. The Psalmist is exuberant in his praise of God's Word. It is good. It is right. It is in all ways perfect. 

I must confess that I do not always value God's Word and find joy in it. At times I am lazy and neglect His Word. At times I am stubborn and reject His Word. Yet, when I am recalled to the Word, I am reminded that God and His Word are good and pure, and that I am not. Then I call to the Lord, much like the Psalmist, "teach me Your decrees".

Heavenly Father, We thank You for Your Word, and for teaching us that joy comes from obedience, not from having our own way. Will You guide us as we study this Psalm? We want to know You, to love you, and to walk in Your ways. Will You teach us Your decrees? Will You fill us so that we live as You call us to live?

Psalm 119 - 1 - Aleph - Joy and Law?

"(Aleph) Joyful are people of integrity, 
who follow the instructions of the LORD.
Joyful are those who obey His laws 
and search for Him with all their hearts. 
They do not compromise with evil, 
and they walk only in His paths. 
You have charged us 
to keep Your commandments carefully.
Oh, that my actions 
would consistently reflect Your decrees!
Then I will not be ashamed 
when I compare my life with Your commands.
As I learn Your righteous regulations, 
I will thank You by living as I should!
I will obey Your decrees. 
Please don't give up on me!" 
(Psalm 119: 1-8)  

Dear friend,
     I've had a series of blogs on my heart and mind for a few weeks now, and as I feel it's the Lord's nudging, I am going to begin here today. (The "nudging" isn't necessarily directed at you or your needs; I process by reading and writing. But you can benefit with me, right?)
     Are you familiar with Psalm 119? It's almost exactly in the center of the Bible, and it's the longest chapter of the Bible. It is an acrostic poem: stanzas are labeled with letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and each verse in the stanza begins with that same letter.
     What is even more interesting...if you (or I) were to choose the theme to be the longest chapter (and in the center) of the Bible...what would we choose? Mercy? Love? Forgiveness?
     Psalm 119 is a poem about God's Word; the Psalmist praises God, declares the truth of His Word, and rejoices--yes, rejoices--in the law that has been given. Throughout the Psalm, God's Word will be described with various words, such as "commands," "decrees," and "regulations".
     I'm going to study this Psalm and make notations of what I learn. I'll share my notes with you, and I invite you to do the same and share your insights with me.

Notes from "Aleph": Why do we obey God's Word?

• We learn from God's Word about who He is and what He is like; as we know Him more, we obey Him more;
• We become like Him when we obey Him;
• We obey His Word in order to thank Him for what He has done for us;
• We obey His Word because joy comes from right living;
• We obey His Word because we still need His help.

     Wow! Following the law of the Lord brings joy--obedience and integrity lead to joyfulness. This is such a different message than what we perceive in our rebellious and independent society. The world would have us believe that joy comes with independence, we'll only be happy when we have our own way. Yet, the Bible indicates that the truth is otherwise. Dependence on God and submission to His will bring true joy to our lives; rebellion and independence will not.

If you want to share your takeaways, send them my way.

I am always in prayer for you!

Heavenly Father, We thank You for Your Word, and for teaching us that joy comes from obedience, not from having our own way. Will You guide us as we study this Psalm? We want to know You, to love you, and to walk in Your ways.  

Psalm 84 Recalculating! Kurtz Family Adventures

"How lovely is Your dwelling place, O LORD of Heaven's Armies.
I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord.
With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.
Even a sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young at a place near Your altar, O LORD of Heaven's Armies, my King and my God!
What joy for those who can live in Your house, always singing Your praises.
What joy for those whose strength comes from the LORD, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings. They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.
O, LORD, God of Heaven's Armies, hear my prayer. Listen, O God of Jacob.
O, God, look with favor upon the king, our shield!
Show favor to the one You have anointed.
A single day in Your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked. For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory.
The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.
O LORD of Heaven's Armies, what joy for those who trust in You." 
(Psalm 84)  

Dear friend, (I'm sharing this post with you; I actually wrote it for my family, but I thought that maybe you would enjoy it too.)

     On multiple occasions the Kurtz family has been known to try to outwit a GPS program designed to help navigate our way to and/or from a destination. “Let’s see what happens if we take this road instead.” “No, that CAN’T be right!” Can you put a GPS program into a tailspin? If you can, the Kurtz family may be the ones to discover how to confound it!

     So far, however, regardless of our choices, the GPS tells us, “Recalculating,” and then shortly issues new directions. Without fail, we always arrive safely at home. Detours, side stops, even our mischievous efforts are sorted and overcome in the end.

     What’s even more exciting and fulfilling is that each Sunday we can “Recalculate” as we come together for worship. We haven’t been lost all week, but our journeys may have contained detours, side stops, and yes (gasp), mischief. Attending church (Sunday School, morning worship, evening Bible study) resets our focus and our course, readjusts our vision, and refreshes our minds, hearts and souls.

     With a combined 70 plus years in the tool and die industry, Bob and his dad know the importance of regular “Recalculations” in their work. Would you believe that there is a person whose sole job is to travel from tool shop to tool shop, to ensure that the surface plates are perfectly flat? Why is that so important? If this working surface is even a tiny fraction off, everything they do will be similarly out of alignment. Nothing will succeed if the working surface isn’t first established correctly.

     This, too, is why we need to be committed to coming to church. It’s easy to let the world tilt our view and taint our motives. On Sunday, we come to the Master Recalculator and to His Word, and we let ourselves be realigned. How joyful it is to undergo realignment! When Sunday ends, we see more clearly, and our hearts are filled and ready to begin again.

• Do you love Sunday for these reasons?

• Is there a sparkle of joy as you prepare for church, knowing that you are going to meet with the Lord and with His people, and there you will be refreshed, recalculated, and realigned? 

• How can we make the most of this opportunity? 

• How can we encourage it in others? 

• Are others able to tell that we are joyous when in the house of the Lord?

I continue to pray for you!

Heavenly Father, We thank You for establishing a place for worship and renewal. How we need to realign our lives each week! 

Matthew 13 - How do you know if someone is a Christian? - 3

"Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn't have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand." 
(Matthew 13: 3-9)  

Hello, Mrs. Kurtz.
     Your blog post helped me take a critical look at what type of soil/seed I am (as well as others around me). Matthew 13:3-9 is very metaphorical, but I think it perfectly describes the types of people who receive God's Word.
     The seeds that fall on the footpath represent people who are completely unwilling to listen or understand Christianity. They have closed themselves off to the point that they are no longer receptive. 
     The seeds that fall on shallow, rocky soil are people who receive God's Word but aren't deeply "rooted" in it enough because their faith is shallow, and when temptations or "rocks" cross their path, they lose to temptation.
     The thorny ground symbolizes people who are too wrapped up in their sinful lives, and hold that above their faith. They may hear God's call and understand it, but they are unwilling to abandon their old life in pursuit of God. 
     Then the "real" Christian is the one that allows the plants to grow. 

     The scary thing about this parable is that it makes it very clear that the only true Christian is the one that grows and produces fruit of their salvation. All the rest are not saved. I am very concerned that my salvation is not evident enough (or hasn't changed me enough), which makes me worry that I am not saved. I have this very same concern with some loved ones of mine as well. 
     My main realization after studying this text is that a relationship with God that does not start to change who you are and how you think (or act) is not a real relationship of someone who is saved. I have to figure out if I'm growing as a Christian.


Dear friend,
     Yes, the evidence of a Christian is growth. However, how do we measure that growth in ourselves? in others? What is the growth that is inferred here?
     When I was still in my teens I talked with my pastor, concerned about the salvation of a dear loved one. How do I know? What do I use as a measure? I can't remember all that he said that day, but I remember the Scripture that he gave me:

"But the LORD said to Samuel, 'Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart'." (1 Samuel 16:7 -- remember, always read the entire context)

     It was not a complete answer to my question; in truth, neither he nor I knew, nor could we. However, the One who knows is the Lord. Then, what could I do?

I chose this path:

• be a living witness (words, attitudes, actions, choices, apologies) to those around me, 
• pray for the Lord to work on their hearts, using me and/or others,
• grow in the Lord, that others might see Christ in me.

Let me share some other Scriptures that relate to our discussion:

John 13:34-35 "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples." 

Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world--like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your Heavenly Father".

1 Peter 2:9-12 "But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light.  'Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God's people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God's mercy.' Dear friends, I warn you as 'temporary residents and foreigners' to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when He judges the world." 

• How can we pray (for ourselves and others) regarding our growth? What role does God play in our growth?
• Do all seeds grow at the same rate? 
• In what ways can we ensure that the soil of our souls is fertile for growth?
• Would others be able to tell that we are believers? 
• What things are NOT necessarily indicators that someone is a Christian? (by way of explanation: does attending church mean that someone is a Christian?)
• In what ways might you be able to encourage growth in others?
• Does Micah 6:8 connect in any way to our discussion?

     As a final thought: I'd like to encourage you to seek the Lord, to grow in your relationship with Him. Like your growing relationship with your boyfriend, you can grow with the Lord. Speak to Him and listen to Him. Read His Word. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you, to help you to love Him, to fill You with Himself.

I continue to pray for you!

Heavenly Father, We want to grow in You, and we want our saved loved ones and friends to grow in You as well. Only You know their souls' condition. We ask You to draw them to Yourself; for salvation, if they do not yet know You, and for nurturing and growth if they do. Will You work in us, to be like You, and to point others to You? 

Matthew 13 - How do you know if someone is a Christian? - 2

"Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn't have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand." 
(Matthew 13: 3-9)  

Hello, Mrs. Kurtz.
     I was wondering how you know if someone is a Christian? It seems as though some people in my life have a strange relationship with Christianity, which concerns me. I know Christians who are close family/friends of mine, and I'm scared of them not being saved. I know that there is no one way to tell, but I'm just curious what you think.
  
Dear friend,
     As you study and ponder this passage, I give you this "micro thought" today:

one identifying characteristic of a believer is 

GROWTH. 

     A seed that has been planted in good soil should be growing. Seeds grow best when they are nurtured with water, sun, etc.

• What are the nurturing factors in a believer's life? 
• What elements are nurturing your growth? 
• In what ways might you be able to encourage growth in others?

     I encourage you to do a topical/word study in the Bible using the words "grow" and "growth" (and other related forms). See what you can find.
     In the meantime, I am going to prepare some other thoughts on how we know if someone is a Christian. We'll talk more soon.


Heavenly Father, We want to grow in You, and we want our saved loved ones and friends to grow in You as well. Only You know their souls' condition. We ask You to draw them to Yourself; for salvation, if they do not yet know You, and for nurturing and growth if they do. Will You work in us, to be like You, and to point others to You? 

Matthew 13 - How do you know if someone is a Christian?

"Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn't have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand." 
(Matthew 13: 3-9)  

Hello, Mrs. Kurtz.
     I was wondering how you know if someone is a Christian? It seems as though some people in my life have a strange relationship with Christianity, which concerns me. I know Christians who are close family/friends of mine, and I'm scared of them not being saved. I know that there is no one way to tell, but I'm just curious what you think.
 
Dear friend,
     This is a valid question and concern, and it's worth studying and discussing. How can we tell if those around us are saved or lost? (I think we'll have to study this over the course of a few blogs.)
     Let's look first at the parable of the sower, displayed above Matthew 13, but also found in Mark 4 and Luke 8. Jesus gives the parable and also explains it. It is worth the time to do a side-by-side comparison of the parable and the explanation.

• What do all the seeds have in common?

• What are the different outcomes of the seeds, and why?

• What is one identifying characteristic of a believer?

     As much as we can, we must strive to be a witness to those around us, regardless of our certainty (or uncertainty) of their salvation. What do people see in us? What do our words tell them about our viewpoints and attitudes? How do our actions reflect what we believe? Based on our lives, would people be certain of our salvation? Let us seek for every opportunity to be a continual witness for the Lord by our words, our actions, our habits, and our attitudes!

Heavenly Father, We want our friends and family to be saved! Our hearts grieve and worry, and so we bring them to You. Thank You, Father, for loving them even more that we do, and for providing redemption for all who will believe. We ask that You draw them to Yourself. We offer ourselves to You--use us, we ask. 

Psalm 51 - Repentance - 9 - Final Reflections

1 "Have mercy on me, O God, because of Your unfailing love. Because of Your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. 
2 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. 
3 For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. 
4 Against You, and You alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in Your sight. You will be proved right in what You say, and Your judgment against me is just. 
5 For I was born a sinner--yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. 
6 But You desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.
7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow. 
8 Oh, give me back my joy again; You have broken me--now let me rejoice. 
9 Don't keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. 
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from Your presence, and don't take Your Holy Spirit from me.  
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey You.
13 Then I will teach Your ways to rebels, and they will return to You. 
14 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of Your forgiveness. 
15 Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth my praise You. 
16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. 
17 The sacrifice You desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. 
18 Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. 
19 Then You will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit--with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Then bulls will be sacrificed on Your altar." (Psalm 51 NLT)

Hello, Mrs. Kurtz. 
     Throughout our discussions on repentance, I've learned a lot about God's nature and who He is, and how that relates to forgiveness and repentance. I've decided to summarize some main points. 

Justification
     I learned that God justifies us as sinners when we repent. This means that we are made right by God's standard despite our shortcomings because of His sacrifice. The world, however, has a different idea. This is what Ravi Zacharias discussed in the article, "Threads of a Redeemed Heart". We make our own standard of what is just based on what we want/like, but in reality only God's standard is true.

Redemption
     God redeemed sinners through His death on the cross (Romans 5:6). In a sense, He paid our debt from sin so we can have a relationship with God. Just like justification, redemption is made available through Jesus' sacrifice, if we repent.

David
     In 1 and 2 Samuel as well as in Psalm 51, we read about David. God had entrusted David, a shepherd, to be king of Israel, but he sinned. David was a man "after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:15), yet he still managed to get himself into a bad place because of sin. David repents and cries out for mercy in Psalm 51. Because of who God is, God shows mercy on David, justifying him. This is yet another point where we can see God living out Micah 6:8 like we are called to do.

Psalm 51
     Psalm 51 is a good model for what a person who is truly repentant looks like. David doesn't defend himself or try to cover up his sin. Instead, he takes the blame fully, admitting his sin and rebellion against God. He goes to God with his heart in the right place, asking for mercy. All too often I try to "make my own rules" when I feel conviction. This is essentially me trying to defend what I know is wrong. Instead of arguing with God, I need to admit that I am wrong and ask for mercy, like David does in Psalm 51.
     

Dear God, 
Thank You for Your merciful nature that You forgive me when I fall short of Your will. Help me to repent of my sin rather than hide from it, following the example given through David. I pray You would help me to do what is right even when it's difficult, and to repent and ask for mercy when I fail to do so.


Dear friend,
Amen! May you have these two strengths: doing what is right, even at great personal cost, and repenting and asking for mercy when you don't. Remember that I continue to pray for you!

"Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what He did for me. For I cried out to Him for help, praising Him as I spoke. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw His unfailing love from me." 

(Psalm 66:16-20 NLT)