Psalm 15:1-3
“O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart;” vss. 1-2
Those who have become accustomed to living by grace may look at verses like this and breathe a sigh of relief, “Thank God we don’t have to live under the burden of the law anymore!” That’s a comforting thought…and it is good to know that salvation comes by grace. But the notion that all God’s standards were dropped when Jesus came on the scene is sadly misguided and dangerous for the faith community. Blameless living is still the expectation, especially for those who have been baptized into Christ. Unless we are beyond reproach in all our actions and deeds, unless we habitually speak the truth, our witness is compromised and trust is destroyed. Such standards are even more crucial as we move into this era of fake news with its callous disregard for truth-telling. When everything our political leaders say and do is taken with a grain of salt, and blatant lying is called “hyperbole,” it’s more important than ever for us to be known for righteous living and trustworthy speech. Of course we won’t be able to be perfect. We are going to fall short and telling the truth will also mean admitting a lie or confessing a sin. Such humility is also one of God’s standards…and ultimately serves to enhance our witness!
Thought for the Day: Am I currently living a life that is “beyond reproach?”
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