Psalm 15 Heart of Worship

Psalm 15 asks the questions:"O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill?" The answer to these questions describes the kind of person that is welcome in God's presence; the kind of worshipper that perks God's interest. Jesus described the kind of worshipper the Father is seeking. In his words:

John 4:23 "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

 The description of the ideal worshipper highlights heart issues and not form. It goes deep into the motivations and desires of a person. The one who is acceptable in God's presence is one who goes beyond the practice of the Law into the spirit of the Law. Take note of some of the things mentioned: walks blamelessly, does what is right, speaks truth in his heart, does not slander with his tongue, does no evil to his neighbor, does not take a reproach against his friend.

If we take seriously our worship to our God, if we desire to live in his presence, we must strive to be people of character and integrity as described by Psalm 15. Not that we have achieved such status, but that we are striving for it with all our hearts. This psalm is a good mirror for me to take a look at who I really am and evaluate my intentions and motivations in my daily conduct. It cuts through performances and appearances to address the heart.

The person that practices these things with honesty and sincerity, not only enjoys the presence of God in his life, but also has the promise of stability - "shall never be moved." The promise of stability is not only for this life in the here and now, but it is for all eternity.

Father, change my heart to be one who desires to be in your presence more than anything else in life. Transform my motives and desires to match yours so that I may develop character and live a life of integrity with the promise of stability forever. Amen.

Acts 5:33-42 Gamaliel

I COULDN'T GO ON WITHOUT COMMENTING ON GAMALIEL. ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES, HE WAS A PHARISEE, TEACHER OF THE LAW, RESPECTED BY THE PEOPLE AND FULL OF WISDOM IN HIS HANDLING OF THE CASE OF THE PREACHING OF THE APOSTLES. IN HIS EXPERIENCE HE HAD SEEN MANY PEOPLE CLAIM TO SPEAK IN GOD'S NAME, BUT HE FOUND THIS PRINCIPLE- THAT A MOVEMENT OF MEN FIZZLES AWAY, BUT A MOVEMENT OF GOD PREVAILS. HE COUNSELED HIS FELLOW COUNCILMEN NOT TO BE TOO HASTY IN DISMISSING THE APOSTLES BECAUSE THEY COULD FIND THEMSELVES FIGHTING AGAINST GOD.

I WAS A TEENAGER WHEN I FIRST READ THIS PASSAGE AND WAS STRUCK BY GAMALIEL'S COURAGE, CHARACTER, AND WISDOM. SINCE THEN, I'VE ALWAYS DESIRED TO BE A MAN LIKE HIM. I ALSO THOUGHT AT THAT TIME THAT IF I EVER HAD A SON, I WOULD NAME HIM GAMALIEL BECAUSE I WOULD WANT MY SON TO BE A MAN LIKE HIM AS WELL. MANY YEARS LATER, IN 1981, ANA AND I HAD OUR ONE AND ONLY SON. WE AGREED TO NAME HIM GAMALIEL, NOT JUST FOR WHO HE WAS, BUT IN OUR RESEARCH OF HIS HEBREW NAME, WE FOUND THAT IT MEANS "GIFT OF GOD." WE MOST CERTAINLY FELT THAT GAMI, AS WE AFFECTIONATELY CALL HIM TODAY, IS A GIFT FROM GOD TO US.

TODAY, GAMI IS 28 YEARS OLD. WE LIVED THROUGH MANY DIFFICULT TIMES AS HE WAS GROWING UP. THROUGHOUT ALL THOSE YEARS MY PRAYER FOR HIM WAS THAT HE WOULD GROW UP TO BE A GOD-FEARING MAN LIKE THE BIBLICAL CHARACTER. I HAVE TO SAY THAT MY SON IS WELL ON HIS WAY TO LIVE UP TO HIS NAME. I AM VERY PROUD OF HIM, NOT SO MUCH FOR HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, THOUGH HE HAS MANY TO MAKE ANY FATHER PROUD. BUT I AM MOSTLY PROUD OF WHOM GOD IS SHAPING HIM TO BE. A GOOD SON, A GODLY HUSBAND, A LOVING FATHER, AND A FAITHFUL COWORKER IN THE KINGDOM.

FATHER, THANK YOU FOR MY SON, AN AWESOME UNDESERVED GIFT. THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY PRAYERS FOR HIM. PLEASE, CONTINUE TO WORK IN HIS LIFE AS YOU HAVE TO THIS DAY.