It’s your choice
Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? – Psalms 15:1
As I thought about Psalms 15 before writing this morning, I took a few minutes to contemplate the opening questions in this chapter. Lord, who may live where You live and who can stay at Your holy place?
As I continued to read the list of qualifications that come next in this Psalm, it occurred to me that we all have the opportunity to be with Him. Anyone can abide in His tabernacle and dwell in His holy hill that wants to live their lives according to the stipulations to get there. God doesn’t make that choice for us, we decide.
As I list the attributes that are required in this Psalm, take time to consider your own life and where you may have areas that need improvement? Of course, none of us are perfect so we cannot always get it perfectly right, but with God’s help, we can improve and become more aware of areas where we struggle.
- Walk uprightly/honestly.
- Works of righteousness and doing good for others
- Be honest in your heart. Don’t try to make your way the right way.
- Do not backbite or speak evil of others even if it is the truth. Instead, speak the love of God over others.
- Do not do evil to your neighbor. Ever, even if you believe they deserve it or have done something evil to you.
- Do not scold or reproach your friends because to be a good friend you will love at all times.
- Despise the vileness of evil people, but again you do not have to speak about it.
- Honor those who fear the Lord even if their doctrine is a little different than yours. Let the Holy Spirit search their heart.
- Swear to your own hurt and do not change. This means you do what you say you will do when you say you will do it. Keep your word and don’t make up excuses.
- Do not lend your money for interest, instead give expecting nothing in return like Jesus commanded in Luke 14.
- Do not take a bribe to condemn innocent people even if you feel like they deserve it. God is the judge.
- When you do these things, you will never be moved
This doesn’t sound that hard to do, in fact, it is really a list of things not to do. You have to intentionally say or do things against this list in order to move away from God.
After reading though this passage again, It makes me ask why do some people choose to walk away from God? Why are there people out there, many people who choose to live some place rather than with their heavenly Father and Savior Jesus? Doing the right thing is not harder than doing the wrong thing, it just isn’t as popular as doing the wrong thing. When living life according to God’s Word and ways, you will live a more peaceable and pleasant life. You will enjoy life and feel good about the choice you make and know that you are honoring your loving Father and the precious people of the world that He sent His Son to die for and rescue from the evil world around us.
So today I want to encourage you to align your life with the characteristics in Psalms 15. Start today to be more intentional to walk out an honest and true life. Do good for others whenever possible and be honest with yourself in all things. When you mess up, admit it and take it before the Lord and get rid of it. Make His way your way in all areas of life. Don’t speak evil of others, ever. Just don’t do it. Remember that God sent His Son for all people, and they all have the opportunity to choose Him as long as they are breathing. Pray for those far from God to be brought near to Him. Don’t do evil to your neighbors and don’t feel the need to correct your friends, just be there for them. Don’t get sucked in to evil activities but recognize that they can defile you if you do. Honor those who fear the Lord and keep your word. If you say it, consider it a promise and then do it no matter how you are feeling about it later. Don’t lend money, use it as a tool to reach others far from God. If you get it back later, that’s great but if not, it is a seed planted in the heart of the receiver. Don’t try to pin anything on innocent people or even shift the blame when you are the responsible one. After you do these things, you will always be close to your Father in heaven! Remember it is your choice to abide in His tabernacle and you are the one who decides to dwell with Him. Make it your life goal to stay close to Him.
Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 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.
The Daily Dose 