A NEW YEAR…A NEW PERSPECTIVE!

PSALMS 15:1-5: “A psalm of David. LORD, who can dwell in your tent? Who can live on your holy mountain?  (2)  The one who lives blamelessly, practices righteousness, and acknowledges the truth in his heart—  (3)  who does not slander with his tongue, who does not harm his friend or discredit his neighbor,  (4)  who despises the one rejected by the LORD but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his word whatever the cost,  (5)  who does not lend his silver at interest or take a bribe against the innocent— the one who does these things will never be shaken.” CSB

OBSERVATION: Am I a good Christian? Am I qualified to dwell in the presence of God? Every time I read Psalm 15 I feel both a sense of challenge and discouragement. The challenge comes from knowing that I need to improve my life. The discouragement comes from assessing my progress. To be honest, I am undone by the second verse.

“The one who lives blamelessly, practices righteousness, and acknowledges the truth in his heart.”

A horn blows, a flag is thrown on the field, and I hear the words – DISQUALIFIED! I do not live blamelessly. I do not always practice righteousness. I do not always acknowledge the truth in my heart. As I ponder these words I am drawn to the cry of desperation by the Apostle Paul when he writes,

Romans 7:24: “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” CSB

It is easy to stop here and call it quits. After all, I have tried and tried to measure up to the standards of Psalm 15 year after year, only to find I have missed the mark once again. My human tendency is just to give up. It is too hard. I will never measure up. How can God love me? How can God use me? Is there any hope?

Once again, Paul points us to our eternal hope when he answers his own question,

Romans 7:25: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.” CSB

There is hope in only ONE – Jesus Christ our Lord! I can never be worthy of standing in God’s presence. I can never be good enough to dwell on His holy mountain. I am disqualified the minute I start each day. Yet, what I could not do, God in His mercy and grace has done for me in Jesus Christ my Lord!

1 Corinthians 1:30-31: “It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption —  (31)  in order that, as it is written: Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” CSB

I no longer live my life in my own strength. I no longer approach God on my own merit. By grace through faith, I have been placed “IN CHRIST” and He has become my righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Now, when I read Psalm 15, I read it with new confidence and joy. I am not worthy to dwell in the tent of a Holy God or to live in His presence. Yet, I am in the ONE who is. I do not enter the presence of God through my righteousness. I enter solely through the righteousness of Christ which has been given to me by grace through faith.

Hebrews 10:19-23: “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus—  (20)  he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)—  (21)  and since we have a great high priest over the house of God,  (22)  let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.  (23)  Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.”

This truth gives me the freedom to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling. It is only in the security of my position in Christ, by grace through faith, that I find the courage to become like Christ. If I fail, I have an advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous. My standing in Christ is not based on my achievements but on His sacrifice. This gives me the boldness to forget what lies behind me and press on toward the goal of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

When I feel that God is positioned to judge me for my failures I find myself paralyzed and unwilling to take risks. I choose what is safe or worse yet I begin to revert to my old patterns of brokenness. Yet, when I see myself “In Christ” I am free to take risks. I am free to obey. I am free to be transformed. I know that in the process God’s love for me will remain constant. I am “IN CHRIST” and it is His life, living in and through me, that continually cleanses me from all sin and empowers me to be transformed into His image a little more each and every day.

So, this New Year, I read Psalm 15 with a sense of hope. I am not disqualified to dwell in the tent of my God, to live on His holy mountain. No! I am “IN CHRIST” and His righteousness has been imputed to me. The life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God! I enter boldly into the throne room of the Father through the blood of His Son. I come, just as I am, to receive the grace and mercy I need each day to live for Him and become more like Him!

So, I read this Psalm anew with this perspective.

PSALMS 15:1-5: “A psalm of David. LORD, who can dwell in your tent? Who can live on your holy mountain?  (2)  The one who lives blamelessly, practices righteousness, and acknowledges the truth in his heart— (The one who lives “IN Christ”)(3)  who does not slander with his tongue, who does not harm his friend or discredit his neighbor,(The one who loves “THROUGH Christ”)(4)  who despises the one rejected by the LORD but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his word whatever the cost,(The one who overcomes “BY Christ”)(5)  who does not lend his silver at interest or take a bribe against the innocent— (The one who is purified “FOR Christ”)the one who does these things will never be shaken.” CSB

Heavenly Father, help me to live my life “IN CHRIST!”

In Jesus’ Name!