June 10, 2013

Ps 15:1 Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?

:2 He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart;

:3 he who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;

:4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honors those who fear the Lord; he who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

:5 he who does not put out his money at usury, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

In this psalm David answers the question in verse one as though God were speaking. Here are a few key points to live a God-honoring life.

1.       Integrity – a blameless walk (upright or blameless don’t mean sinless; it means we handle sin correctly and quickly.

2.       Doing right – on our job, in our relationships, on the internet.

3.       Truthfulness – in all areas, including our income tax.

4.       Guarded words – we aren’t gossips or slanderers.

5.       Kindness – our neighbors speak well of us, so does our husband and children. After all, they see us as we really are.

6.       No put downs – of people we don’t like, of drivers who cut us off in traffic, of people of different opinions then us, even people with different political views.

7.       Discernment – we don’t hang out with evil people but keep close to people who honor God.

8.       Faithfulness – we keep our promises to others, to the bank, and to our spouses, even when it hurts.

9.       No greed – we lend and give generously.

10.   No corruption – our boss, spouse, pastor could watch us throughout the day and find nothing displeasing to them or to God.

Pretty heavy list isn’t it? Especially number 10. But think about it – Jesus is with us every moment. He sees and hears EVERYTHING all the time. How some of the things we say do, see must grieve Him.

I am not saying and neither was David that we are saved by doing good. I fail sometimes in those areas and so did David. But if we want to draw near to God, and stay there, we need to continually strive to live this way. We are not called to happiness first as Christians, but to holiness. How we act at church on Sunday, should be how we act wherever we are all week. When we live that way, we won’t be shaken.

James Boice said: “ No one has much trouble keeping his or her word when to do so is to the person’s own advantage. You would have to be unbalanced not to. But how about when the conditions have changed and the promise, agreement, or contract is no longer to your advantage? Do you honor your promise then? Do you fulfill the contract? Or do you try to find some way to get out of what you have committed yourself to? The psalmist says that God approves people who keep their promises even when it hurts them to do so.”

1 Thess 5:`17 Pray continually.

Ps 62:5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him.

Rest in God. Give your mind a break from trying to figure out what will happen. Ask God to take charge of your day. When we try to figure out what lays ahead we ignore God. He  knows what’s coming. He is preparing you for whatever is ahead. Trust Him that whether it is good or bad, He will bring you through.

I really needed this reminder today. Lord, help me to rest in You. Knowing no matter what, You are in control.