MAN (part 2): presence of God

Last Tuesday we began a series that we will continue on this Tuesday and each Tuesday until the New Year.  It is titled MAN and will take a look at look at what a person who walks with Jesus.  This man will take seriously what God’s call us to love, to be part of and to know what to pursue with passion.

Psalm 1 and 15 are pretty clear pictures from God.

Psalm 1:1-3  NASB

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.

That is one of my favorite passages of the Bible.  I remember as a teenager memorizing those verses and coming to understand how critical it is to be godly and to live right and well.

The godly man is set apart from those who are not like God.  He stays away from listening to the wrong people.  He doesn't spend time with the people.  And he doesn’t become a negative influence for others.

What the godly man does is focus on God and make sure his thoughts are fed by God.  He sees success that comes from God and in to his life.  Being a godly man is not just a choice of how to live.  Being godly is what this man really is!

Psalm 15  NASB

O Lord, who may abide in Your tent?  Who may dwell on Your holy hill? 2 He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart. 3 He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend; 4  In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honors those who fear the Lord; He swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5 He does not put out his money at interest, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.

This passage asks a question that all of us have to answer.  Who is the person or what is the person like that constantly finds himself, or herself, in the presence of God?

Integrity is part of what people say when they talk about that person.  They are honest and a great friend.  He honors God above everything else.  This guy is strong and not shaken by the people or the situations that he finds himself in.

God loves people.  The best life, the strongest person finds himself, or herself, in the presence of God and longing to be more and more.