One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
Psalm 27:4 KJV
The Context and Contention:
Again, we read a psalm of David, and as is the case, it is a song from a place of personal experience. Nobody can experience God on your behalf; you can enjoy the testimonies of other people and love what God is doing in their lives, but you have to walk the path toward God by yourself and of your own freewill. The benefits of that personal walk are amazing; you have to be in it to enjoy it. Check out how many times the word I is used in this single verse; any other context, you will call David self-centred, but here, this is the definition of personal commitment to all that is God's. What is my own stand today?
The human part of us will want to do 'important' things for God at the same time, but we can learn one thing from David's story today: there is only one thing that is fundamentally important first of all, and then other things will follow. That one thing is the Presence of God. David understood fully what the presence of God is and means, and from his own life, we see the benefits of that understanding. No matter what I do, the one thing I must not lose is the presence of God. No matter who I become or achieve, the one thing that will determine my eternal reality is the presence of God. What is important to me now: pleasure or the presence of God? Praise from men or the presence of God?
The Charge and Conclusion:
Dwelling in the house of the Lord reflects permanent residence; not temporary abode. It means your heart is committed to the place you want to dwell. I must check my heart today: am I just in it for what I can get out of it; am I just there for now until something 'better' comes along? Am I biding my time until I get a better offer? Remember, the heart's motives and secrets are laid bare before its creator. He knows all that goes on in it. If I seek to dwell in the presence of God, there are things I must avoid, and things that must align with my new status. Is that what my heart truly seeks at this time?
Just like citizenship, it confers me with both rights and duties and I cannot claim one and reject the other. Am I content just being where God is, listening for his voice and directions? Is the beauty of the Lord sufficient for me, or are there other attractive offers from the world seeking to hold my gaze? When the heart is right, its enquiry will be right. When God is my heart's sole focus, all that it seeks will be to honour God. If all I think of is how to please God, sin, self and Satan's machinations hold no attraction for me. I must therefore, as aa matter of urgency, settle the question of my heart's allegiance today. What is my utmost pursuit and priority? Is it God? God's time of favour is here.
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