Field Tested: Lessons on Living in the Kingdom of Heaven

March 14, 2019 by Cheli Sigler Leave a Comment

Self-righteousness, shallow understanding, sinful abandon— common among sin-sick humanity; detested by God. In a series of parables, Jesus, the Master Storyteller, equates these characteristics with fruitless trees, barren soil, and weeds. Over the next three days, Jesus will teach us field-tested lessons about bearing fruit, cultivating fertile soil, and preparing for harvest as participants in the kingdom of heaven.

Day 8: Repent

Read Luke 13:6-9.

Frustrated with Israel’s pursuit of fruitless, works-based religion, Jesus tells a parable about the need for repentance. The fig tree in the story represents Israel. God, the vineyard owner, is ready to cut down the tree and be done with them. Out of His lovingkindness and because there is no guarantee of tomorrow for humanity, Jesus, the gardener, asks the Father for more time to bring the wayward people to repentance.

Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. (Matthew 3:8)

Bible commentator, David Guzik, writes, “We can’t come to the kingdom of heaven unless we leave our sin and the self-life.” Repentance, turning away from sin to run toward God and His purpose, leads us into the arms of the Savior. Jesus greets us with grace and clothes us in His righteousness. Repentance yields a manifest Christ-life. For a moment, put yourself in place of the tree in this parable. Is there any fruit? What do you need to turn to God for today? Don’t wait for tomorrow.

Day 9: Receive the Word

Read Matthew 13:3-8 and Matthew 13:18-23.

Soil conditions are the focus of The Parable of the Sower, our reading today. Good soil, in the kingdom of heaven, is found in a Believer who submits to the working of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in his/her life. In this good soil, God’s Word grows deep roots, and produces much fruit. Taking nineteenth century preacher, Charles Spurgeon’s suggestion that every Christian needs a soil test, here is a brief soil assessment based on David Guzik’s commentary on this parable:

1. Is there room in our lives for God’s Word? If not, Satan is more than glad to keep us out of God’s Word.
2. Do we approach the Word with eagerness, only to become indifferent? It is possible for God’s Word to get established with little understanding and faith, but eventually the lack of depth will cause it to wilt away.
3. Do we try to engage in the Word while being distracted by worldly pursuits? Jesus makes it clear we can’t do both; we can’t be fruitful for God while trying to please the flesh.
4. Is your pursuit of God’s will and purpose in accordance with His Word evident in your life? If so, you have good soil for faith to grow deep and take root.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. . . . (Colossians 3:16a)

In this season of spiritual reflection, may you honor God by allowing His Word to inhabit every area of your life.

Day 10: Persevere in Hope

Read Matthew 13:24-30 and Matthew 13:36-43.

Jesus says, “this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3) Eternity begins when we say “yes” to God and our Savior, Jesus. This being true, Believers participate in the kingdom of heaven while on earth. In today’s parable the children of God (wheat) live alongside the sons darkness (weeds) until Christ returns for His Church.

Knowing this, how should we live? In writing to the Ephesians, Paul answers,

. . . for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true). . . . (Ephesians 5:8-9)

In our struggle with the world, we must continue in good works motivated by love and prompted by faith, tether ourselves to God’s Word, and persevere because our hope is in the Lord. Take confidence in this: God will administer justice to those who belong to darkness, He will harvest His own, and “the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matthew 13:43).

Lenten Reflection

May God bless you and keep you through His Word and His Spirit during these 40 Days with the Storyteller. As you sit at the feet of The Storyteller, what are you learning about living in the kingdom of heaven? Please share in the comments.

As you sit at the feet of The Storyteller, what are you learning about living in the kingdom of heaven? #LentReadings #40DaysWithTheStoryteller

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Clean to the Fibers {Run to Him Psalm 51}

February 24, 2012 by Julie 6 Comments

The pollen from my bouquet left a dark yellow stain on the neckline of my once pure white wedding dress. We went into crisis mode to renew the lace and prepare for presentation to my husband-to-be. With little time, there was no way to truly cleanse it; covering it up was the best we could do.

The Need for Repentance

None of us begins with a pure heart; we’re all born with a sin problem. We’re delivered to this world with a need for deliverance. When the prophet Nathan confronted David with his adultery and murder, the Psalmist’s sin stared him in the face. The King was “always aware” of his offense “against God,” so “evil to God,” recognizing he was born that way (v.5). David shared his individual longing to be made right in Psalm 51’s words, written for a congregational group to song together. The ceremonial system required worshipers to “wash” and “cleanse” themselves before coming into God’s presence. Knowing he was undeserving, he appealed to the character of God, marked by steadfast love and abundant mercy.

David knew the scope of his offense and responded with a humble heart.

David knew the scope of God’s mercy and responded with a plea for deliverance.

David knew the scope of God’s love and responded with a worshipful heart.

Have mercy, wash me, cleanse me, purge me, wash me, hide your face, blot my sin, create a new heart, renew my spirit, don’t cast me away, don’t remove your Spirit, restore my joy, uphold me….

These are the words of a man who was sin-stained and knew it. These are the cries of a man who was unworthy to be in God’s presence and knew it. These are the pleas of a man who knew God’s mercy and love surpassed his dirtiness and evil. These are the hopes of a man who knew he could not make himself clean, but God could. Could these be your words?

Because He is the “God of my salvation” (v.14), He looks for more than a covering up of our outward stain; He wants inward purity demonstrated by outward obedience. Cleansing prepares us to enter His presence. Without it, our dirty condition overflows to the whole community of believers. A gathering of the cleansed and forgiven cannot help but respond in worship to the One who mercifully gives what isn’t deserved.

The Joy of Restoration

David knew the joy of having his personal evil washed to a miraculously whiter-than snow condition. He felt the joy of having his contrite heart and broken spirit healed and accepted. Deliverance from sin opens the door for freedom in worship, so he promised, “my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness … and my mouth will declare your praise” (vv. 14-15). Worship is the song of a forgiven heart.

There was no time to cleanse my wedding dress. A heavy spray of hairspray, covered by a dousing of baby powder, masked the stain on my yellowed bridal lace. It was covered, but not clean.

God isn’t fooled by our attempts to cover up our sin. Only the God of our Salvation has the power to cleanse the deep fibers of our hearts and restore our broken spirit. For those who know the joy of undeserved mercy, let’s join David’s congregation and sing the song of the forgiven hearts!

Do you have a humble heart that’s honest about your stained condition?

Have you appealed to God’s mercy with a plea for cleansing and to be upheld?

Are you taking time to worship God privately and with a group of other forgiven people?

Naomi’s Journey Home

March 10, 2011 by ScriptureDig 11 Comments

I remember watching The Wizard of Oz where Dorothy had just ran away from home in hopes of finding a better life somewhere over the rainbow. When her wildest dreams turned into her worst nightmare, all she wanted to do was click her heals and go home.

A story all too familiar for those who find themselves wandering, wanting, wanton or wounded.

Much like Dorothy, Naomi and her family ran away from home full of hopes and dreams. But with the death of her husband and both of her sons, Naomi’s dreams were dashed and her hopes were gone.

Widows had it hard in a land where they were considered to be of the lowest class beggars.

“Then Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had blessed his people in Judah by giving them good crops again. So Naomi and her daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab to return to her homeland. With her two daughters-in-law she set out from the place where she had been living, and they took the road that would lead them back to Judah.” Ruth 1:6-7

All it took was a word from home that God had shown up and blessed His people with food and all that dear woman wanted to do was to click her heals and go home.

Naomi, Ruth and Orpah began the 30 or so mile journey from Moab to Bethlehem, but somewhere along the way (the Bible doesn’t say), Naomi thought about those two young women. Why should they leave the familiar to enter a new land with a different culture and a different God?

She knew what that was like. She had done it herself. But as a widow who was considered too old to remarry and possibly too old to bear children, she knew Ruth and Orpah would be destined to a life of solitude.

Orpah finally relented and agreed to Naomi’s pleas that she return to her own people and her own land.

Ruth could not.

She was determined to stay with the woman who had lost everything. She knew what that felt like and they were in this thing together.

And so they began to make the 7-10 day journey from the plains of Moab to the town of Bethlehem. It was only a little over 30 miles. It seemed so close but the dry, dusty and treacherous terrain seemed to mirrow what was in Naomi’s heart.

It was a dangerous journey for the two women to take. They were vulnerable widows taking a trip few women dare to take without a man during those chaotic and often violent days when judges ruled. For Naomi and Ruth, there were no street lights, no paved roads, no rest stops and no security. They were easy prey for the bandits in the bushes – and then there was the Jordan River to cross and the 2,000 foot slope they had to climb – but these women were determined to make it home.

Naomi was going home. Home to her land. Home to her people. Home to her God… and so was Ruth.

Let’s take just a minute to examine a few of the countless lessons that parallel Naomi’s journey home:

When we get away from God, we seldom return the same. Naomi had left Bethlehem full of life, but what a difference a decade makes away from God, away from His people and away from His promises.

The journey home is always better with someone to help you along the way. No matter how far we stray, coming home is easier when we walk hand-in-hand together. Teri Lynne covered that truth beautifully in Tuesday’s post – My Mother-in-Law Rocks!

Going home may take humility and it may be a treacherous trip, but it’s always worth it! Naomi left in search of food during a famine, but now she was returning with empty arms and a broken heart. Perhaps she was wondering if she should have ever went to Moab in the first place. But the minute her foot stepped on Bethlehem soil, she was home and like Dorothy, Naomi knew – there’s no place like home!

Where are you on your journey? Have you wondered far from God in search of something somewhere over the rainbow? Are you in the middle of your journey home and in need of a helping hand? Or are you glad you never left your Bethlehem in the first place? What other lessons can we learn from Naomi’s journey home?

Only One Way?

September 20, 2010 by ScriptureDig 12 Comments

From where I was standing in the packed crowd, I saw hands holding the spike over her feet just before a man did what I never believed people still do … he nailed that spike into the feet of a woman, crucifying her before the electric crowd. For seven years she repeated the ritual, attempting to pay for her own sins and those of her family; she pledged to continue her vow for seven more years in a determined plan to save herself and loved ones.

If she’s willing to do so much to save herself, shouldn’t it work? Is there really only ONE WAY to bridge the gulf of our sin? That seems kind of intolerant, doesn’t it?

It’s not easy for our world today to swallow the idea there’s only one way to knowing the true God. We live in a “post modern” world, which means “there is no such thing as absolute, objective, or universal truth,” according to John MacArthur in his book Why One Way. Instead of recognizing one reference point for truth and an Ultimate Authority, our world is more comfortable, even passionate, about the freedom to decide your own truth based on experience.

No wonder eyes roll when people hear Jesus’ claim in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Instead, our world is intoxicated by the chance to have a god of their choosing.

It sounds so “B.C.” to talk about idols and offerings, but it’s really so “modern.” Around the world people still bow to golden images, offer hair as a sacrifice, give themselves in crucifixion, whip themselves publicly, and give gifts to silent objects made by men. Sometimes old idols take new forms, as people try to find another way to know God, another way to fill their emptiness, and another way to pay for their sin. The confusing invitations to take easier, more visible routes/detours is nothing new … Paul encouraged his young mentee Timothy about expecting many lies to be told by teachers who would try to entice seeking souls to embrace myths instead of truth. But Jesus is the Truth.

Since God is holy, He has to have our sin problem dealt with to draw us near. And since He is merciful, He offered His Son as our atoning sacrifice. 1 John 2:1-3 declares that Jesus is THE atonement for our sin, for the whole world’s sin. He is the ONE WAY for the whole world, regardless of race or color or geography.

“If you confess with you mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be a saved” Rom. 10:9.

Narrow? Yes. Jesus even said in Matthew 7 that the way to God is a narrow way. We have to get down off of our crosses, turn away from our idols, and look to Him alone for rescue.

After the woman was crucified in her hands and feet, the crowd shouted triumphantly. A team of men lowered the cross and released her, sending her away to have her wounds cared for. They prepared the cross for the next person … to try in vain to do what only Jesus can do through giving His sinless life in perfect love.

The Dig Team prays that those who read have chosen the narrow way that leads to abundant and eternal life in Jesus Christ alone. Do you know that Jesus is your One Way?

Prayer Theme Recap

August 30, 2010 by ScriptureDig 3 Comments

In case you missed any of these incredible posts, here is a recap of the past month here on Scripture Dig.

What is Prayer? Introductory post to this series.

Jesus’ Prayer Lesson: Kathy spent three days examining the Lord’s Prayer. Part One gave us some general principles about prayer. Part Two covered three of the six components of the prayer – Our Father, Hallowed be Your Name, Your Kingdom Come. Part Three discussed the remaining three components of this prayer – Give us each day our daily bread, Forgive us our debts, Lead us not into temptation.

Using Prayer Cards: Sandra shared how she uses prayer cards to guide her prayer time.

Write … in a Prayer Notebook? Julie gave some counsel about using a prayer notebook to organize your prayer life.

Double Whammy: Teri Lynne shared how to gain the power of using Scripture as a foundation for prayer.

Prayer: Graphic Organizers: Julie offered four different organizers – downloadable as PDF files – to use as tools for praying for others.

The Type A Person Prays: Teri Lynne shared how she uses a prayer calendar to organize her prayer life.

Praying for Your Spouse: Kathy gave insight into the types of prayers we can offer for our husbands and the significance of doing so.

Praying for Your Children: Stephanie shared parental prayers for children of all ages and situations.

Praying for Your Church: Kristi encouraged us to remember how necessary our prayers for our churches are.

Repentance: The Power of Painful Prayers: Examination of David’s prayer in Psalm 51 by Teri Lynne.

Confidence: Finding Rest in the Sovereignty of God: Looking at Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 2 with Kristi.

Intercession: Pleading for Undeserved Mercy: Kristi gave insight into the reality of intercession by studying Nehemiah’s prayer.

Jesus Prays for You: Sandra took us through Christ’s prayer in John 17.

Which of these posts was your favorite? Any ideas you have put into practice yet?

Repentance: The Power of Painful Prayers

August 23, 2010 by ScriptureDig 9 Comments

Perhaps the most gut-wrenching of all the Psalms, David’s prayer of repentance in Psalm 51 offers us a glimpse into the power of our most painful prayers.

Repentance can be the most challenging aspect of a disciple’s life. Turning from our sin and embracing the grace of forgiveness … that’s the hard work of faith. Far easier for most of us is simply saying, “I’m sorry.” The words come easy, gliding off our tongues … the heart-change however is far more complex.

David’s tawdry affair, cowardly behavior, vindictive murder … vile as it all was … are not the issues. And so within our own lives we must come to this same realization … our lies and greed, selfishness and pride, those attitudes and actions, words and thoughts, they are not the focal point of this need for repentance. The need for repentance stems from one thing only: A heart separated from God.

Repentance is the cry for reconciliation, restoration. And David understood that while his behaviors most assuredly hurt others (and would lead to consequences he could never have dreamed), it was his heart that needed healing.

In this Psalm I note three types of power.

The Power of Sin

“For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.” Psalm 51:3 NASB

We can never underestimate the grip of sin in our lives. Sneaky and subtle, sin in the believer’s life – any sin – causes shame, guilt, and fear … and when we allow it to remain unchecked, unconfessed, that sin grows in power in our hearts. The voice of God, His whisperings and beckoning, fade as the call to sinful self shouts and promises greater things.

The prayer of repentance breaks the power of sin as we cry out truth over lie, life over death: “Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; then my tongue will joyfully sing of Thy righteousness” (Psalm 51:14 NASB).

The Power of Grace

“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 NLT

Grace … the precious gift of that which we do not deserve. Did David deserve a clean heart after all he’d done? After the deceitful and insidious acts he had committed? No. He did not deserve that cleansing, that renewal. But do I deserve forgiveness for my own lying tongue? My own prideful heart? My selfishness? Absolutely not. Grace … amazing, wonderful grace. “Grace that exceeds my sin and my guilt,” the old hymn promises.

“For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17

The prayer of repentance calls on the power of grace.

The Power of Faith

“You would not be pleased with sacrifices, or I would bring them. If I brought you a burnt offering, you would not accept it. The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise.” Psalm 51:16-17 NLT

The greatest power in these painful prayers of repentance is not the words we say. After all, “talk is cheap.” No, the greatest power in these prayers is that of faith. The honest acknowledgment of the power sin has gained in our hearts and the humble acceptance of God’s grace and forgiveness for that sin is meaningless if we don’t ever move out of the pit. If we wallow in our shame and guilt, continuing to confess a sin that God has forgiven, continuing to move as though we were in the shackles, then we never experience the power of faith! For it is faith that moves us into the freedom of repentance … that moves us to change, to make that 180 degree turn and walk in obedience.

The sacrificing and burnt offerings are easy … outward, seen. But God is looking at our hearts … broken, contrite, repentant. David knew this, for he had been chosen by God not for what was visible. Remember the Lord’s words to Samuel as he looked over Jesse’s sons, “People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at a person’s thoughts and intentions” (1 Samuel 16:7 NLT).

Friends, the power of these painful prayers is when we are moved, changed, and heart-well.

Is there a need for some painful prayers in your life?