Listen

Who can live in your tent, Lord? Who can dwell on your holy mountain? The person who lives free of blame, does what is right, and speaks the truth sincerely; who does no damage with their talk, does no harm to a friend, doesn’t insult a neighbor; someone who despises those who act wickedly, but who honors those who honor the Lord; someone who keeps their promise even when it hurts; someone who doesn’t lend money with interest, who won’t accept a bribe against any innocent person. Whoever does these things will never stumble.

Psalm 15

Think

Growing up, I always asked myself what I needed to do to be a good Christian. Perhaps that was the wrong question, but still I often received answers that were rules and boundaries. I remember feeling like a terrible person if I missed my Bible study time in the morning. I remember beating myself up over not fully memorizing the key verse of the week for Sunday school. I remember feeling guilty for something as small as keeping my eyes open during a prayer.

Psalm 15 addresses this same question in a better way.

Who can live in your tent, Lord? Who can dwell on your holy mountain?

The person who stays awake to see more than just themselves. The person who picks up on the details.

These are not rules or requirements, but simply a view of what life is like for those who live by relying on God instead of relying on themselves. The character of the righteous will resemble the character of God.

God wants our loyalty in all things. Those who live for God and not self will never be moved.

Chris Cherry

Pray

God, help me to think about others beyond myself. Help me to not get caught up in the rules, but to see the life of real people beyond the regulations. Amen.

Go

To be awake is to be alive.

Henry David Thoreau in Walden (1854)