Today’s scripture: Psalm 101 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV)
As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.
My thoughts (Theresa Benson):
No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence. (v7)
To dwell in the house of the Lord — what do you suppose that’s like?
Can you think back to a time in your life when you felt no stress, just happiness and peace? Perhaps it was when you saw your child for the first time. Or climbing a mountain and being transfixed by the view from the top. Or the way you felt in coming out to a good friend or family member and having them love and accept you, all of you, exactly as you are.
I think the house of the Lord is all these things and more, but we’re given the gift of these human experiences so we can have a glimpse of how wonderful it is to be in the presence of a God who loves us. They’re like unexpected love notes to be discovered each day, from a God who desires to be with us and doesn’t want to wait to let us know.
However, each time we lie to ourselves and to others, we lose out on an opportunity to experience a sample of the joy of being in the house of the Lord.
We might get caught up in the tangle of trying to remember to whom we told what, and we pile on ourselves unneeded stress and worry. Depending on how elaborate the lie is we might start believing our relationships are built on a foundation of, “You wouldn’t like me if you really knew me,” and instead of finding peace and solace with partners and friends, we find despair and live in fear of being “found out.”
This isn’t living in the house of the Lord or being in God’s presence. The Bible tells us God is like a tender shepherd (Isaiah 40:11) and that Christ’s love is “wide and long and high” (Ephesians 3:18).
We are given opportunities every day to choose truth, and when we do, it inevitably brings us closer to the goodness God wants to share with us.
Thought for the day: How can I be more truthful today?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.