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Psalm 15:1-3 – O Lord, who shall sojourn in Your tent? Who shall dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend.
Athletes train for years to qualify for a sports team or earn an athletic scholarship. Employers search for qualified candidates for a job opening. We need to meet certain requirements for health or employment. What qualifications are necessary to live and worship in the presence of God, both now and for eternity? It is a question of great concern to the psalmist. Who will sojourn in the Lord’s tabernacle, the tent of meeting and worship? Who will live on Mount Zion, the Lord’s holy hill?
The psalmist lists the qualifications. Those who want to worship and dwell in God’s presence must be blameless and do what is right. They must speak the truth from the heart and refrain from slandering others or doing evil to a neighbor. They must not take up a reproach, that is, spread gossip, against others. In repentant honesty, we must admit that we do not meet those qualifications. Perhaps we meet one or two of those requirements, at least some of the time, but we can never do so in the perfection required for a place in the presence of God.
There is only one person who truly measured up to the psalmist’s list. Jesus our Lord walked blamelessly, obedient to His Father’s will in all things. He did what was right throughout His earthly ministry of teaching, compassion, and healing. He spoke the truth and did not slander others, even those who opposed and rejected Him. He did not respond in kind when His enemies mocked and ridiculed Him, even as He hung on the cross. The sinless Son of God took our sins, including our lies, slander, and gossip, onto Himself and suffered the penalty of death for our sins. Now by faith we are clothed in the righteousness—the perfect qualifications—of our risen Lord. Through faith in Jesus, we are qualified to enter the presence of God, now and for eternity.
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? Who will live and worship in the presence of God, now and forever? The answer to those questions is found in the forgiveness of sins. By God’s grace, through faith in Christ, our sins are forgiven. The requirements have been met. The qualifications have been fulfilled. “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen” (Jude 24-25).
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, lead me to walk in Your ways, so that I might do what is right, speak the truth, and love others as You love me. Amen.
This Daily Devotions was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
- When have you committed yourself to a demanding pursuit with a specific goal? How did that turn out?
- God requires that we be sinless in our lives before Him. Is that a demand we can meet?
- How does faith in Jesus’ atonement for our sins give us a new life to live victoriously for God?
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