ONE STEP

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?

The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

Whoever does these things will never be shaken.

Psalm 15

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

What would it take to dwell where God is?

This question is at the heart of the 15th Psalm which proceeds through the words of David to provide us an answer.

So what are some qualifying qualities needed to live with God? David gives us somewhat of a top ten list in the following

1. Speak truth from the heart.

At the heart of God is truth and anyone who resides with Him has to be one of truth as well. Notice how it’s just not good enough to speak truth from our lips. We need to speak it also from our heart.

Have you perfectly spoken truth from your heart in life? I know I haven’t.

2. Utters no slander from their tongue.

Because God is truth, everything He says is true. Thus, He would never say anything about anything or anybody that wasn’t true and anyone who wants to live with has to have done the same.

Have you ever said anything about someone or something that wasn’t true? I find myself guilty here as well.

3. Does no wrong to a neighbor.

In God’s neighborhood, everyone loves perfectly.  Jesus said we are to “love our neighbors as ourselves” but have we really done this? Have we really done no wrong to any neighbor we have had? I don’t think I have always been a perfect neighbor all the time and so guess I fall short here as well.

4. Casts no slur on others.

Back to the words we speak and how we talk about others. God would speak perfectly about all in truth. We, on the other hand, have a tendency to gossip and talk about others behind their backs. Maybe you have been the victim of this. Maybe you have been the perpetrator. Maybe you have been a little of both in your life. I know I have. We need to think about the words we choose, especially as we talk about others.

5. Despises one who chooses evil but honors those who show respect and reverence toward the Lord.

It’s amazing to me that in a world where there is so much evil happening, it seems the Christian church is the most silent. Conversely, how many times do we hear the church speaking out in favor of believers who are doing good and advancing the kingdom, showing reverence and respect toward the Lord?

We keep silent when we should be speaking out in the name of the Lord. Maybe if we weren’t so busy saying the things that we shouldn’t we would have more time to say the things that we should.

6. Keeps an oath even when it hurts.

God has always kept His promises perfectly. Man on the other hand has not done so well. Not in the times of the Bible and not now either. We seem to easily feel we can break promises whether it is to God or to others (How many divorces happen because vows are not kept?).

God expects us to be as faithful to our vows as He is to ours. Unfortunately, I think everyone is guilty of breaking a promise.

7. Does not change their mind.

This doesn’t mean we can’t change our mind about things. We are expected to change our minds about anything sinful and turn instead toward the Lord’s righteousness. We only get in trouble when we choose to turn from righteousness toward sin, from God’s desires to our own.

8. Lends money to the poor without expecting anything in return.

There’s a song I love by singer Matthew West that talks about most people living in their own little worlds. He goes on to share how much his world opened up when he allowed it to be “Population Two” instead of “Population Me” after he cared for a homeless widow begging for help. He writes how he was convicted after considering how many times he had passed her by and never acted. His decision to help answered Christ’s call to provide for the least fortunate and we’re expected to respond likewise. Consider this the next time you see someone that everyone seems to just pass by, a child of God just like you and me who has found themselves in difficulty. Give freely knowing that God has given freely to you.  

9. Does not accept anything to harm the innocent.

God is a God of justice and He expects His people to act justly. We are not to falsely wage accusations or charges against anyone and we definitely should never accept any kind of reward for harming an innocent person.

10. Walks blamelessly, doing what is righteous.

This is first on David’s list but last on mine for a reason. For let’s say that you think you have met requirements one through nine perfectly (I would have trouble believing it, but stranger things have happened). I can say with full confidence and assurance that you haven’t met number 10. Everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The scriptures assure us of this. And so no one has walked in a way that is blameless. And no one then has met all ten of these requirements to be able to live with God.

Maybe we need to not look at the ten points as requirements to live with God but rather steps toward living in the righteousness that God expects. The truth of the matter is that none of us will ever be perfectly righteous.

So does this mean we’ll never be able to dwell with God?

No, it simply means we can’t get there on our own. There is nothing we can do in the way of works that can earn us a place with the Father.  

We can only be with Him through belief in His Son Jesus. It’s that simple.

Yes, ten steps aren’t needed but only one. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) Jesus went onto say that He is the way and the truth and the life and that no one can come to the Father except by Him. (John 14:6)

Friends, this is the heart of the gospel, the good news we all have in Jesus Christ. One Father who gave His one and only Son so we might be saved by making one choice: to believe and trust in Jesus as Savior.

This, and this alone, is how we can live with God, dwelling in His sacred tent and living on His holy mountain forever.  

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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