Discipleship Essentials*
Wedesday, November 10, 2004
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Thank You again for Your constant grace and mercy in my life! As I start a new day with You, I pray that You will pour out Your Holy Spirit upon me and my family and friends that we may live boldly and confidently for You, keeping Your commands and bringing You honor and praise. I pray that as I interact with others today, that You will call Your word to my mind and allow me to speak and live it in ways that will draw others into Your Kingdom. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God’s Word Today
Psalm 119:1-16
1 Happy are people of integrity, who follow the law of the LORD.
2 Happy are those who obey his decrees and search for him with all their hearts.
3 They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths.
4 You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully.
5 Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your principles!
6 Then I will not be disgraced when I compare my life with your commands.
7 When I learn your righteous laws, I will thank you by living as I should!
8 I will obey your principles. Please don’t give up on me!
9 How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word and following its rules.
10 I have tried my best to find you—don’t let me wander from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
12 Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your principles.
13 I have recited aloud all the laws you have given us.
14 I have rejoiced in your decrees as much as in riches.
15 I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways.
16 I will delight in your principles and not forget your word.
Background on the Text – Who Wrote It? Why Was It Written? Who Was the Audience?
As we continue to examine Psalm 119, we find that the author wants us to focus on a consistency between what we learn and what we live. While this is true of all the psalms and of the Bible as a whole, this is never more true than in this particular chapter. The psalmist, if he was living in post-exilic times (after the Israelite’s exile in Babylon) would have recognized that what he was writing would have a formative impact on people of all ages, thus today’s emphasis on young people.
Observation – What Does the Text Say?
(Specifically look at the bold verses, if any, to answer these questions.)
Interpretation – What Does the Text Mean?
Application – How Can I Respond to the Text’s Insights and Teachings?
Each Week’s Check List
After reading and studying this text, reflect on the following discipleship growth points:
Growth Point |
How |
Encouraged and strengthened me by |
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Fallen short areas |
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What will I do with these insights? |
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What did God say to me today? |
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Share insights and growth points |
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Changed/transformed how? |
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Thoughts...How Can a Young Person Stay Pure?
We may think that pressures on young people to turn to the ways of the world are a recent development. Without a doubt the temptations and pressures on young people today are not only different in intensity, but even different in kind than those of my youth, but the psalmist makes it clear that temptations have always been present in young people’s lives to turn from God’s ways. That’s why he raises the question, “How can a young person stay pure?” and answers it himself—by obeying God’s word and following its rules. The Bible has always been God’s “instruction manual” for living. It has always been effective in overcoming the impurity of the world—when it has been obeyed and applied! That’s the ongoing challenge for us all, isn’t it? As someone once said, “God’s word says easy and does hard!” It’s easy to read the words of the psalmist concerning God’s word and God’s will for our lives, but it’s another thing to live it out in daily life. That’s because we find it easier—although in the end much more painful—to keep control of our lives rather than giving them up to God, and permitting the Holy Spirit to keep us faithful, obedient and pure. In the end, it is actually easier to let the Holy Spirit empower us to live God’s word, but it takes a long time for most of us to come to that conclusion AND actually give up control to Him. Today, in this moment, consciously give control to God!