Psalm 15 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 15 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill?
Verse 2Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart;
Verse 3who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends, nor take up a reproach against their neighbors;
Verse 4in whose eyes the wicked are despised, but who honor those who fear the Lord; who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
Verse 5who do not lend money at interest, and do not take a bribe against the innocent. Those who do these things shall never be moved.
Devotion
Periodically, people wanted to know from their rabbi which of all the laws was the most important. Their questions were like those of the psalmist: "Who can be admitted to worship God?"
In Jesus' day, Pharisees asked Jesus the same kind of question, wondering which is the greatest commandment of the law. Jesus gave this profound reply, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second—you shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-40) Convicted, they were stunned to silence and never asked more questions.
Listening to Jesus' words, "You must be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect," (Matthew 5:48) makes us ask with the psalmist, "Who then is worthy to come into God's presence?" Because of Jesus, we have the answering promise, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
Prayer
Thank you, Jesus, for paying the price to cover all of our sin, so we can come with confidence into your very presence. Amen.