Scripture
O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a reprobate is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; He swears to his own hurt and does not change; he does not put out his money at interest, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.
Observation
What does it mean to walk in righteousness? This Psalm explains, step by step.
- I start by seeking God. I can't even begin to walk in righteousness if God hasn't covered me with His own righteousness first. Proverbs 3:5 say's not to lean on Your own understanding. So I can't walk in righteousness according to my own understanding, I have to inquire of the LORD first and foremost.
- The first steps begin with integrity. Doing what you say you are going to do. As someone who over-schedules I really struggle with this. That is why asking God is such an important first step to my daily walk.
- The second step is to work righteousness, my actions should be right according to the word of God, thus I need to know the word of God and what God finds right.
- The third step is a heart check. I can act like a Christian, but if my heart is seeking my own glory instead of Christ's, what does it matter? This is such an important step and one missed very often. The heart is deceitful above all else (Jer. 17:9). I need God to shine His light of truth into my heart and reveal if I am believing lies in my heart.
- The fourth step is how I treat others. How do I speak of and to others? How do I treat my neighbors? How do I treat my friends? And how do I treat other Christians? I should speak to them with loving honesty and treat them with loving kindness. Jesus said that they will know I am His disciple by my love (John 13:35).
- The fifth step further describes my witness. I should swear to my own hurt and not change. Am I critical of others and less forthcoming with my own junk? Paul say's I should brag about my weakness because God is my strength in weakness (2 Cor. 12:9).
- The sixth step speaks to me on generosity. Am I giving selflessly? I don't want to have any conditions set on gifts given.
- The seventh step is a call to be bold for Christ. Not only am I not to take a bribe against the innocent, I believe God is also calling me to speak up when I see someone treated unfairly.
There is a glorious promise at the end of this Psalm for me if I choose to walk in righteousness, and it is that I will never be shaken. GLORY!
Application
I fall so short of this standard, and thus when storms come, I shake. I am going to take key words/phrases out of this Psalm and meditate on them. I praise God for His grace and His perfected power in my weakness (2 Cor. 12:9), because I can't walk the way I'm called to walk without Him.
Key words:
- Integrity
- Works of righteousness
- Speaks truth in heart
- Speaks edifying words to everyone
- Be honest about your own weakness
- Give generously
- Stand up for those who are innocent.
- Promise of never being shaken.
Prayer
LORD, You search me and know me. You know when I sit and when I rise and perceive my thoughts from afar (Psalm 139:1-2). My sin is not hidden from You, and I have fallen so short of Your standards. I have kept silent instead of speaking up when I see injustice. I have judged and given my advice to those who only needed Your love. I have been selfish instead of generous, and LORD I have gone against what I said I would do so many times I have lost count. But that is not who I want to be, I want to be a person who honors You. Jesus, please make me like You; a servant, so loving and kind. Please cast out all lies from heart, I desire to only walk in Your truth. I praise You for being so much bigger then my sin and Your faithfulness to complete the good work that You began.
No comments:
Post a Comment