After I read Habakkuk 1 this morning I ventured to my daily Psalm which happened to be 15 today. Habakkuk started with an "oracle" which is not a good thing. An oracle being pronouned meant, in Jerral's words..."a verbal warning right from God." The prophet asked the questions we all ask about wickedness and injustices and even why God would use wicked people to punish His very own. Anyway...that's not what I want to address today but this reading has some great stuff to chew on!
When I arrived in Psalm 15, which is one of my favorites, I wanted to share with you how I apply this to me each time I pass through these five verses.
David asks the question of who can dwell in God's presence (vs1) and proceeds to give us this list. If you are: 1) trying to live right 2) a truthful person 3) does the right thing for the people around you 4) hates evil and 5) loves God 6) gives money to those who need it 7) doesn't take a bride to hurt others. This is quite a list but I love that it has seven things which is the number of perfection. And really is just good basic living!
Now how does this look in comparison to the New Testament teachings. We know that we are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). So this would have nothing to do with our salvation. But I do believe our moral standing does affect our relationship to God and how we STAND in His presecnce. Peter tell husbands to treat their wives with respect...so nothing will hinder thier prayer requests (1 Peter 3:7). Timothy says we should live up HOLY hands in prayer (1 Timothy 2:8). The only way we can do that is by confession and as the rest of verse 8 says, "without anger and disputing." Jesus taught much about prayer. He told us (Matt. 6:5) to not pray like the hypocrits who loved to be seen praying. And He also gave us in the same chapter the model of prayer. Jesus continued in verse 14 telling us to also have the act of forgiveness towards those who need to be forgiven and if we don't we will NOT find forgiveness from God.
Paul tell the church at Corinth that they are spiritual babies because they have not grown and are still "worldly." Chapter 3 of 1 Corinthians he tells them they will loose rewards when they STAND before God in the Day of judgement. I could go on and on...
My moral standing does matter...If I want to have God's ear in prayer I do need to pay attention to the things that matter to Him. Is God just my religion or is He my Holy Father, Friend and Guide? God saves us to grow us up to be mature in Him and being like Him is just like the requirements of Psalm 15!!!
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