Life and Worship

OPENING PRAYER:

Eternal God, you are in charge and I am not. Help me to get that truth through my thick skull, to step back and trust you every step of the way.

READ: PSALM 15

A psalm of David.

1 Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?

2 The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; 3 whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; 4 who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; 5 who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

Whoever does these things will never be shaken.

PSALM 15

REFLECT:

Think of a Christian whose life, you feel, models what it is to follow Jesus. What are their attitudes or actions that have encouraged you?

What are the key qualities of people whom God welcomes to worship him and to spend time with him (vs 2-5)? Did you notice that none are to do with how we behave in a meeting with other worshippers? All of them are about how we live in the rest of our lives.

Can you find the positives and negatives in this psalm that characterize such people? Positively, they live (walk) in line with truth, honesty, and justice (v 2), treat godly people with great honor, and keep their word, even when it is costly (v 4). Negatively, they do not gossip, or stir up wrong with words, or criticize others (v 3). They are discerning in the company they keep, avoiding evildoers (v 4), and they are people of their word (v 4). They handle money rightly, being generous to those in poverty, and not accepting bribes to favor the rich (v 5).

Who can live like this? The standard is too high! Yet, through Christ, God accepts us as we are, but not so that we can stay as we are. This psalm is a challenge to us about how far our lives are coming into line with God’s purposes.

APPLY:

Examine yourself using this psalm. Reflect on where you are growing into the person God wants you to be, and where you have some way to go.

CLOSING PRAYER:

Lord, I know I talk too much. Put a filter on my tongue so that my words build up rather than tear down.

Next