"Who may worship in your sanctuary, LORD? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?" Psalm 15:1
I remember fondly a game I used to play as a child called Mother may I. The person acting as the mother in the game would talk to each "child" one at a time. She would give an instruction and the "child" had to ask "Mother may I?" before he/she could proceed. If the "child" did not he/she could not move forward closer to the mother. The object of the game was to be the first to reach the Mother.
In Psalm 15 David tells us the answer to the question: who can enter into the presence of the LORD. What a great question to ponder. Blessings to King David for leaving us the answers. He even spills the beans about our prize. In verse 5b we are told such people will stand firm forever. I love the translation in the ESV, "He who does these things shall not be moved."
We can be "such people" who do "these things":
- Lead blameless lives and do what is right. Blameless does not mean perfect or without sin. It means complete, wholesome, with integrity.
- Speak truth from sincere hearts. If you can't say something nice don't say anything at all.
- Refuse to gossip or harm neighbors. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
- Despise flagrant sinners. Regard with contempt the person who willfully disobeys or openly disrespects rules or orders.
- Keep promises even if it hurts. When you say you are going to do something, do it.
- Lend money charging no interest. Don't ask for more back than you loaned.
- Cannot be bribed to lie. Tell the truth no matter how great the temptation is to lie.
You don't even have to say "Father may I?" Just walk forward in faith toward the sanctuary, the dwelling place of the LORD. Enter the joy of His presence and accept your reward, standing firm and not being moved.
If you have a minute read the ESV and the Message
If you have a minute read the ESV and the Message
7 Comments:
Good Morning,
What qualifies a person to be in the presence of God? You are right Wendy, God makes it as easy as he can for us! We do have the answers and we even know the reward! And, isn't the reward--to stand firm in Him, the key here?! If we are standing firm we will not be moved!
*We will do what is right.
*We will speak truthfully.
*Our heart will be sincere.
*We will speak nicely.
*We will obey rules & orders.
*We will keep our promises.
*We will lend our money-it's Gods anyway!
*We will not be tempted to lie.
I look forward to reading the other translations, Wendy!
I also liked 17:8 (NIV version)
"Keep me as the apple of your eye"
And, check out 16:10 - subtle reference to the Lord's resurrection!
16:11 -How can we have joy? To abide in joy, "you will fill me with joy in your presence."
19:12 & 13 - I think this would be a great daily prayer!
So many good truths today, girls!
Loving the Psalms!
The Bible tells us about God's love, and also repeats the subject regarding the importance of the Word of God. As this is repeated over and over to us, we are reminded to read His Word...
Instructions. Decrees. Commandments. Commands. Laws. Reverence for the LORD. These are God's truth. They are "more desirable than gold, even the finest gold" God's Word is alive and active in us dear sisters!
Wonderful readings today! I can't wait to pop back in tonight and read your comments! Today, I'm watching my 5-year old nephew who is sick with strep throat. Looking forward to loving him and enjoying the moments that seem to pass so quickly in this fast-paced world!
Blessings & hugs sweet sisters,
Lori
Hi Everyone,
I'm still here just haven't had much time to blog. Done with the temp cut backs and back to 35-45 hrs a week. AND Thanking God for my good Job.
Hoping to add more later, until then Love and Blessings to you all.
Lynn - OR
Jan, I forgot...welcome to the sunny state of AZ! :) Thankfully, for you...it's not as warm as was predicted! I'm praying for sweet "moments" with your mom.
Thank you Karen for the knitting ideas!
And, the best news girls that I can't believe I forgot...Dave is coming to church with me this Sunday! God is amazing when we TOTALLY believe he will do what he says he will do! It's Mother's Day and we will be finishing up our "Relationships" series...the pastor's wife is speaking on communication. Let's join together and pray that Dave's heart will be open wide, ready to take in what God has in store for him!
As we choose to walk with God, we need to know that the enemy is lurking around---just like Kristen said yesterday! Let's keep him behind us girls...praising God will do the trick!
Loving you all and sending prayers and hugs your way!
Lori - AZ
Lynn, good to hear from you! :)
Brandee...we miss you!
Wendy, what encouragement from your application here this morning. Thank you.
God's answer can seem overwhelming and even impossible, but we don't do it on our own. He supplies the strength and enables us. He removes barriers and offers all we need for us to enter His presence.
This morning the Lord convicted my heart through Psalm 19:12-13. Deliberate sin. I wish I could be quick to say that I have never chosen to sin deliberately, but unfortunately, even saying so, I'd then be speaking such.
I have known in my heart that the unkind words about to run from my lips will hurt, yet I have provided their footing.
I have realized that my action will pain another, yet I chose to proceed.
I have considered that I would be demonstrating pride by continuing down that path, but I have walked it regardless.
Just this past Monday night I excused an answer I gave someone as "truth", justifying my response because I wanted to give an affirmative reply. When questioned whether or not I had followed through with something I had promised to do, I said 'yes', telling myself I had intended to do it and would fulfill the request as soon as they left, so truly, it was as good as done. Why did I not just admit that I hadn't completed the task? I was afraid of looking like I had failed. Yet, in speaking a lie (let's call it what it was!), I have lived with the guilt.
The job I had neglected wasn't a big deal. A day or two late would have resulted in no ramifications. Yet, pride controlled my heart and gave instruction to my tongue and I obeyed sin's choice. A second of disobedience has caused days of regret and shame. So, was that momentary escape from expected judgement worth it?
I could have simply, in all honesty, replied 'no' and I'm certain I would have been offered grace, but instead I chose to deliberately sin.
Three days later my answer has now become truth, or at least that's what I'd like to believe, as the duty has been done. The truth however, is that my original answer can never be anything but what it was...a deliberate sin.
Today, in repentance I pray with the Psalmist, "Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me."
Confessing and repenting,
Joy
When I read the list of requirements of how I can enter into the presence of the Lord, I feel ever more thankful for what Jesus did for me in dying on the cross and raising to life again.
I have failed so miserably. I nervously laugh at the "don't charge interest if you loan money" one, because I work at a bank!
I also struggled with the "despise flagrant sinners". Aren't we to despise the sin, not the sinner? In today's world with sexuality being so open, and greed, and selfishness,etc..etc...etc... I think I could be despising alot of people!
Anyway....thank you Jesus from the bottom of my heart! And yes I saw the foreshadowing of heaven in Psalm 16:10-11 also...and that gave me joy.
Peace.
Morgen
Lori, read my post from last night.
The verse that jumped out at me was in Ch. 15, the last verse.
Search my heart and know me and see if there be any wicked way in me.
Love today's comments, Wendy you do such a good job. When I read the reading for the day I always try to pick out what verses you will comment on, but you surprise me :)
Jan TN (Tucson)
Afternoon~
What a great day of reading! There was SO much in today's reading that just jumped off the page. All you guys insights are always such a blessing to read and I love it when God seems to place all our hearts in the same place. I think that is too cool :) I have had a really busy week and next week is going to be even busier. My son only has a week and a half left of pre-school and then is home for the summer and I am trying to get tons done. I have been reading, just not alot of time to post.
As I read through today's reading I kept thinking about how today is the National Day of Prayer and how fitting what we have read fits in with that. Psalm 12:1, "Help, O LORD, for the godly are fast disappearing!" How sad that is in our country where things just seem to be getting further and further away from God. I see the culture going so far away, but at the same time a passion growing in those of us that are devoted to Christ. About a month ago my family went to see "Monsters vs Aliens" out at a big movie theater and mall that we don't go to that often. As we walked through the mall after the movie to where we could go eat dinner I had to stop myself from my jaw hanging open the whole time. I told my husband I must live a very sheltered life because I did not realize how open people are about alternative lifestyles. He kids me all the time about things like that and being square, but how far gone has our culture gotten from God just floored me that day. I see it on the TV and things like that, but I guess since I am stay home mom and surround myself with Christian friends, it was a wake up call to how much our country needs Jesus' truth. I pray that as Wendy said, I can live by Psalm 15 and be a light to what I am seeing. I pray that the sin that lurks in my heart I don't see, God will cleanse me from. That He will show me where I need to change to be an even brighter light. Keep me from deliberate sins and don't let them control me (Psalm 19:12-13). I am praying today for our nation, that we will seek God and turn from the wicked ways and let God heal our land!
Lori- That is AWESOME about Dave! God is working friends! We are seeing changes right in front of us this year. Praise Him! My son has asked me to start praying with him at night before bed and if we can say a prayer before dinner. John has been fine with both. After he reads him a story I have been going in there and finishing up by praying with him. Will's faith is really growing and when he prays it is so cool to listen to him. He says things that I wonder "where did that come from?" But I know it is all God working in his life. He did say a really funny one the other night. He said, "Thank you for my nose to pick." LOL! I busted out laughing and I am sure God got a big chuckle out of that one. Now he thinks he was so funny he has said it every night. I try to tell him "smell" not "pick" but he thinks he is hilarious!
You ladies have a great rest of the day. We are headed out for Will's last swimming lesson after nap.
Blessings~
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