Read Psalm 15. 1O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? 2He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; 3who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; 4in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.
Who lives in God’s tent with him? Or, who worships in God’s presence at his tabernacle? Is there any question more important than this one?
Surprisingly David’s answer doesn’t include a single ritual deed or religious offering. Instead he lists the character traits of the person that dwells with God. Integrity. Blamelessness. Truth. Honor. Righteousness. He who does these things shall never be moved.
Only one person walked the earth blamelessly. Only one man not only spoke the truth but was completely truthful in his own heart. There’s only been one that refused to slander, reproach, despise, or do any evil. There’s only been one that lived a life of perfect integrity. Jesus is the only one of us that sojourned from God’s tent. He alone left his dwelling on God’s holy hill to come to us.
Christ’s dwelling with us, in the tent of our hearts, the holy hill of our own spirit, has transformed we who are in Christ into the Psalm 15 dwellers with God. Now the character traits found here are no longer requirements for entry into God’s presence, but the gracious results of living face to face with God.
To live is Christ has made us the tent of Christ and the holy hill of God. Slowly we become the character of Christ, and forever we shall not be moved.
You: How is your integrity? Are you truthful? Unchanging in your word?
You in Christ: Are you actively living face to face with God, aware of his presence? In what ways is his presence transforming you?
Christ in you: How can knowing we have Christ’s own righteousness help us to walk in righteousness, blamelessness, and honor?
Pray: Father, change me into the likeness of your Son as I dwell in your presence forever. I look forward to the transformation. Amen.
To Live is Christ 