Wednesday, February 5, 2014

SOAP 02/05/2014 Psalm 15:1-5

Today's reading: Exodus 39, 40; Psalm 15; Acts 12

S) "15 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 (NASB)

O) I used the whole chapter here, because there was no real way to separate any of these verses. They're kind of a run on sentence, beginning and ending with the benefits; the fruit of the middle verses. It's promise, instruction, promise.

A) I was reading a daily correspondence I get from an evangelist (Dea Warford). It was talking about how, in the end days, there will be a falling away in the church, and how scary that will be. He referred to a few different verses, like 1 Timothy 4:1 and Hebrews 12:27. It has potential to be a very scary thought and topic, but then there is the Psalm above. Salvation is not earned, and we cannot simply run through a checklist to make sure we are saved - it's not that simple. But this Psalm is a reminder, that as I chase after God alone, as I take up my cross to follow Jesus, and seek first the kingdom of God, the above things should work as a barometer, to let me know I am fully after God. This Psalm serves to either convict with red flags, or confirm with green lights.

P) Father, please continue to reveal my own heart's condition to me. I want to be sure that I am one who walks with integrity and works righteousness, and all of the other things noted in this Psalm. Most importantly, as I continue to chase after who You are, Lord, let these longings in my heart be a reaction of love and not simply fear of You. In either case, thank You for the grace in my life, that puts me in a place to know Your blessings. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

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