The Psalm Says it All

Psalm 101 (NLT)1 A psalm of David. I will sing of your love and justice, Lord. I will praise you with songs. 2 I will be careful to live a blameless life…I will lead a life of integrity in my own home. 3 I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all who deal crookedly; I will have nothing to do with them. 4 I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil. 5 I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors. I will not endure conceit and pride. 6 I will search for faithful people to be my companions…7 I will not allow deceivers to serve in my house, and liars will not stay in my presence.

If everyday we woke up praising our God and committing our hearts and ways to Him, imagine how much nonsense we would avoid. David not only had a heart of worship, but also a heart that longed to walk in integrity. It sounds like David was careful about how he lived. He wouldn’t allow the vile or the vulgar into his home. He stayed away from those who were crooked. He rejected perverted ideas and would not hang with those who were gossips and slanderers. He would not allow pride and conceit to dominate his life or be with those who walked in them. He cried out for and searched diligently for companions that were faithful and believed as he believed. He did not allow liars to serve in his house or be close to him.

I wonder if this empowered him to stay out of trouble and please his God. What if we became a people of integrity. A people that was whole. Maybe we should be careful what we allow into our homes and be careful who we allow to influence us. I believe that the Holy Spirit will give us this divine direction we need…let’s ask Him to help.

I was just struck by the power of this idea of integrity…I need more and want more! Have a great one!

Jealous for Us

Exodus 34:14 (NLT)14 You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.

Have you ever had days where you wake up and feel absolutely lousy and you don’t want to be around anyone? I think we all have. As I was reading Exodus 34 I was struck by this particular verse above. Contained in this verse is God’s heart for his people.

Just a few verses earlier Moses was praying for his people, “O Lord, if it is true that I have found favor with you, then please travel with us. Yes, this is a stubborn and rebellious people, but please forgive our iniquity and our sins. Claim us as your own special possession” (v. 9). Basically Moses is saying, “I know we are an absolute stench in your nostrils, but please be and go with us. We need you and we need to know that we are Yours in spite of how awful we are.”

I find it unfathomable that this holy, righteous God would have anything to do with us. Here we are in our restless state attempting to run from God and from others and He says He is jealous for us and that He desires an intimate relationship with us. AMAZING!

So next time you wake up feeling horrible and are tempted to isolate yourself, draw near to God in your state and ask Him to travel with you on your journey. Know that He sees you as His special possession and that He is jealous about His relationship with you. Peace, Pastor Bryan