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You have a good, good, Father, who has drawn you with loving kindness, and loves you with an everlasting love, to speak His blessing upon you this day, saying the Lord bless you from Zion; and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem All the days of your life. [Psalms 128:5,6] He blesses you with something that is much more than the tangible or material, a transformation in you to be conformed more and more to the image of His Son. It comes by a spiritual growth that happens, as you remain planted in the house of God, with a craving for His word, that reflects in His divine desires being birthed in you. And it becomes your practical experience, as you pray, to then display a progress in you that is visibly seen, or evident.It is a process that Paul elaborates upon to his son in the faith, Timothy, saying Taking pains, be absorbed in them, that your progress may be visibly seen by all. [1 Timothy 4:15]
God examines your motives:
And there was no mincing of words, but perfect clarity in king David’s instructions to his son, Solomon, as he entrusted the details regarding the divine plan of God towards the construction of the temple of God And you my son, Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion, and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every mind, and understands every desire, and every thought. If you seek Him He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. [1 Chronicles 28:9] And to God, knowing Him is not via information technology, but as a revelation knowledge in your spirit, leading to a relational experience of it in you, in every aspect of your life.
The heart of the matter, is the heart:
The God who sees deep within you, goes beyond your actions, to examine the motives, the intent of your heart. For a person can do he right thing for the wrong reasons. And wearing a mask of pretense, even in church, to cover up pain or ungodliness within, is something that man can do, and even get away with it. But not so with God. David had experienced it in his life, and therefore could instruct Solomon rightly, to stress the importance of a heart that is loyal and devoted to God.
The attitude of your heart:
To God what matters is your character, the attitude with which you come to Him. David knew it well, and prayed thus, after offering unto the Lord Almighty treasure of his own of gold and silver, and precious stones, in abundance towards building the temple of the Lord God. Since I know, my God, that you put the heart to test, and delight in uprightness, I, in the integrity of my heart have willingly offered all these things so now with joy I have seen Your people make their offerings willingly to you. [1 Chronicles 29:17] Your character speaks more highly than your possessions, in the sight of God. It is seen in how Job is described in the scriptures. [Job 1:1-3] It is his blameless and upright character, one of integrity, that is prioritised first, to be followed by his family, and then his worldly possessions. And it is diametrically opposite to how the world perceives the worth of a person to be.
A heart of integrity – by keeping His word:
How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. [Psalms 119:9] And if it is your heart’s desire, it is possible to have a heart of integrity, walk in the path of uprightness, though you live in a world of sinful darkness. For Christ has accomplished it all on the Cross, for all of humanity. Sin has been conquered, the devil defeated. And it is with understanding of the truth, that comes through His word, that you apply it in your life, knowing that it is possible to lay aside every weight, and that clings so closely, to run with perseverance, the race that is set before you.
Sin decoded:
Sin is doing what you ought not to, and not doing what you ought to – sin of omission and commission, it has been said. But it is also what is within, the evil intent in a person, that will ultimately result in action. Sin is missing the mark, or falling short of the glory of God, in fulfilling the purpose for which you were born. Also, sin is knowing the right that you ought to do, and not doing it; or in other words, all wrongdoing is sin. And the deception of sin is that, when you end up doing what is wrong, you believe you are right, and it is God who is wrong.
And sin overcome:
I treasure Your word in my heart, So that I may not sin against you. [Psalms 119:11] You value His word, to also take care to remember it, much as Solomon remembered his father’s words to him. And as you treasure His word, it is where your heart will be, so that out of the fullness of your heart, your mouth may speak it forth, to sustain you in trouble, and also overcome your challenges. It was what Job was able to do, though he encountered and went through immense trouble. He did not have a written bible then, but the word that God spoke to him, became his treasured promise. [Job 23:12] And today, every promise of God that He speaks to you, is Yes and Amen in Christ Jesus. You only have to hold on to it, forgetting not His benefits, when a problem surfaces to cast a doubt in you.
Transformed by His word:
Moreover by them Your servant is warned, In keeping them there is great reward. [Psalms 19:7] It is how the psalmist acknowledges what the word of God can do in you, after describing the nature of it’s beauty and power. [Psalms 19:7-10] The word of God contains the voice of God, that His sheep will recognise, to be encouraged and also warned by it. It is the perfect warning system, that when heeded to, will cleanse you, and also guard you from straying into the tempting pastures of sin that result in painful consequences that are –
1} setting your mind on what is evil and not from God.
2} Idolatry
3} Immorality
4} Testing God
5} Grumbling and complaining
These things were found in the Israelites, as they wandered in the wilderness, to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. [1 Corinthians 10:11] And the prayer of David as he approached God with humility, serves as a powerful example of the prayer that you and I can lift up unto God that we may overcome it all, to have a heart of integrity –
Create – renew – sustain:
Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me; To sustain me with a willing spirit. [Psalms 51:10,12] And let this be the cry of your heart this day, with your heart focused upon Jesus, to know that through His word, in His strength that is made perfect in your weakness, He will create, renew and sustain in you, a heart of integrity, of faithfulness. A faithful man abounds in the blessings of God. And may it be your blessed portion in life, in the coming days, that He may be glorified. In the Name of Christ Jesus Amen.
