"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 a 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" Psalm 15:1-5.
The terms of an agreement are important. If you don’t think so, try missing some payments on the house or car you have financed. If you have agreed to pay a specific sum of money monthly at an agreed-upon interest rate, you do well to honor that agreement lest there be consequences.
What are the terms of an agreement to be in relationship with your Creator Father? They are succinctly specified in the verses from Psalm 15 we’ve quoted: live a life of integrity, be honest in speech, be kind to your neighbor, be a good friend, support and encourage those who have a similar passion for their Father as you do, keep your promises, be generous with your finances, and never allow your integrity to be for sale. These are God’s non-negotiables.
As strict and unbending as these requirements seem, there is room in God’s tent for mercy: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” Ephesians 2:4-5.
Our Father’s requirements are changeless, but grace cuts us slack when we fail (as we inevitably will and do). A passion to please matters more than perfect performance.
Amidst this checklist of requirements, we must not miss the key priority: a desire to dwell in God’s tent and holy hill. The heart of the Psalmist was a yearning for intimacy with His Creator, and this overarching desire was channeled through that which would please His Father.
A good marriage is not built on a mandatory checklist of obligations. Obviously there are necessary tasks such as bookkeeping, house cleaning, lawn maintenance, etc. that must be tended to, but the real motivation is knowing what brings our spouse happiness and joy, and gladly doing such things. And so it is with our Father: living harmoniously and intimately with Him motivates that which we do that pleases Him.
My mornings begin with a hot cup of coffee, Bible, and prayer list in hand in my favorite prayer chair. I’ll admit there have been times past when obligation was more the motivation than a genuine desire to be in His presence, but at this stage in life I look forward to these moments. A comforting peace and calm prevails, and I am satisfied regardless of how I might feel. It is a simple expression of love for the One who loves me without measure.
May passion for our Father, through Jesus, motivate us in how we live and what we do.
©Steve Taylor, 2022 --Used by permission
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“Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith” Hebrews 13:7.