Psalm
1 I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.
2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.
5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.
7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.
8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD.
Outline
A Godly Stand
I will sing of God's merciful justice, Psalm 101:1
I seek to live blamelessly, Psalm 101:2
I refuse to view immorality, Psalm 101:3
I block polluted thinking, Psalm 101:4
I end the friendship of slanderers, Psalm 101:5
I keep company with faithful people, Psalm 101:6
I only allow honest people to be at my house, Psalm 101:7
I start each day by ridding the town of evildoers, Psalm 101:8
Sermon
A Godly Stand
Psalm 101
By Pastor Clinton Macomber
This psalm is a carefully balanced Psalm of decision. Not only is there carefully formed positive decisions, they are balanced equally with the negative decisions that enable the positive decisions to be done.
As with everything in life, making a choice involves two things. It is the rejecting of one thing to do another. There is no way to compromise, because a compromise is simply avoiding the inevitable decision that has to be made.
An example of this is the fairness doctrine of the news agencies imposes by the government. It states that if one side is presented, the other side must as well get equal time and space. This is a great socialistic and humanistic philosophy to provide a balanced news output, but it has never worked, and never will. There is what is right and what is perceived as right. To know what is right one has to have a relationship with the author of all right and truth, and that is God. An unsaved person cannot present truth, or what is right, because they are spiritually blind and do not know truth. In fact, they inherently run from truth and avoid what is right and wholesome.
God defines what is truth and lies, good and evil, right and wrong, helpful and harmful, etc. He knows these things because He created us and knows therefore what is best and what will bring us happiness and blessing. Trying to ignore God and His teaching is a sure way to go the path of sorrow and blindness.
So to make a decision requires two things: First an adherence to what we need to do, and secondly, a rejection of those things that would hinder us spiritually.
I will sing of God's merciful justice
Psalm 101:1 I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.
Singing is a very difficult thing for people who are humble and aware of their inadequacies. In order to sing, a person must first learn how to sing. As with any skill, singing takes a lot of practice and an investment of time and resources. Proper singing not only utilizes the whole human body, it is one of the most noticeable aspects of human action around.
Singing is unique to human beings. Although there are some birds and animals that can mimic little phrases and habits that are repetitive among humans, following a melodious tune with carefully designed and properly articulated poetry, requires great skill. Fortunately, the hard work has already been done and given to us in the great hymn book of the Bible, the book of Psalms.
Originally, singing was not for fellowman, but for God. The ability to sing was given to us so we could glorify God in sing praises to our Creator. It is only when we learn how to sing, and then use the skill to sing to God, that we can truly and ably minister through singing before our fellowman.
In this Psalm, David made a vow in these verses; it is a vow passed to us in the Word of God, so we also will make it. The vow is to sing of the mercy and justice of God. As usual, good music unites ideas that taken singly and apart from one another, seem to conflict. But when we sing of God, we cannot sing only of His mercy or of His justice, we must sing of both of them, because they are so into related they cannot be separated. Taking one without the other provides a deeply distorted view of God.
So why should we sing to God? First of all, we are fulfilling our obligations and duty to glorify God. Secondly, we are turning our focus from ourselves and those things that are temporary, to those that are eternal and everlasting. Thirdly, we are able to give a message to our fellowman of what will change their lives forever, should they choose to follow God as well. Fourthly, we instruct and challenge our children to follow us in the path of righteousness.
There are many ways to witness, and the methods of many different human beings are propagated throughout the world. The most effective way to witness is not through plays, movies, drama, cartoons, storytelling, lectures, or any other form that is normally used. God's Word tells us how to witness, and it is by and through singing praises to God and talking about God and His provisions for us.
Singing attracts others to listen in to the words that are being said. It draws in a listener to not only be moved into a spiritual mindset, but to also be able to carefully consider the words that are being said. The other amazing effect of music is that the listener will normally be curious enough to find out exactly what the words are so they can understand. Sacred music not only has a clear melody and harmonious sound, but words that are clear and easily heard. The whole of sacred music is holy, and enables the Holy Spirit of God to do a work in the listener’s heart.
Society governs itself with what it calls music. It is a rare occasion to go to a flea market, shopping center, or any place of business or vendor, and not have what is called music blaring to control the buyer. A great deal of money is spent in some places to not only get specially designed sounds, but to also make sure it is at the absolute right setting to impact the customer. The huge sums of money would not be expended if there were any question as to effectiveness of the endeavor.
Even exercise today is done today with headphones on the person. When a person goes to a local gym or health club, either the sounds are blared for all to hear, or they issue headphones for each person to use to select their own style. Relaxation is done to the sound of what a person likes to hear. Traveling is done to the tunes that are either wholly or profaning. Work places have sounds blaring.
Horrible ungodly sounds are seemingly inescapable in this world. So why then are God’s people so afraid to use sacred music outside of church services? The world is proud to publicly force their ideas of evil sounds upon everyone else, and the child of God goes about hiding the true form of music under a bushel!
A Christian person is going to be noted by their music. They are going to use sacred music that is honoring to God and has a powerful message to a not only the singer but the listener.
Singing to God can get very monotonous very quickly, if one does not have an ever enlarging repertoire of music from which to draw. Not only should our daily devotional time be spent in learning the Word of God, it should also be spent in expanding our musical abilities and use of Psalms.
But how do we learn of God’s mercy and justice? It is by going through those dark times….
Singing Canaries Trained In Dark
We have read that during World War I, when it was no longer possible to import those beautiful singing canaries from the Harz Mountains, Germany, a dealer in New York decided to start a system of training canaries to sing. He had bird songs put on records, and these proved of value.
But one day he made a real discovery which meant success. He found that if he covered the cages with thick cloths, completely shutting out the light, the birds learned their song. God sometimes teaches His children to sing in darkness. Verily, “He giveth songs in the night.”—Moody Monthly
I seek to live blamelessly
Psalm 101:2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
If you are able to sing what you call sacred music, and do things that are not righteous and good before God, then you should question the music that you are using. Part of the blessings of using truly sacred music, is that it will govern our thoughts and keep us from sin. Holy music encourages a wise and perfect walk with God. It inspires the singer to redouble their efforts to learn to walk blameless before God in everything that they do.
For example, consider these hymns and the message imparted:
Can we say nasty, mean spirited things to someone else while singing:
“What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear;
What a privilege to carry
Ev’rything to God in prayer.
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Ev’rything to God in prayer.”?Can we sit around wasting time and being bitter while singing:
“Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;
Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves”
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves;
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves”?Can we lay around letting guilt and sin capture us while singing:
“I heard an old, old story,
How a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning,
Of His precious blood's atoning,
Then I repented of my sins
And won the victory.
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood”?Can we keep our hearts closed up and still sing:
“O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer's praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!”?Can we skip saying Grace for our meals, or daily prayers while singing:
“Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief,
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare,
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!”?Can we sit in a corner, hiding while singing:
“Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God”?Can we sleep in late and ignore God while singing:
“Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity”?Can we blow our diets, or do things we have decided to stop while singing:
“Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin;
each victory will help you some other to win;
fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue,
look ever to Jesus, he'll carry you through.
Ask the Savior to help you,
comfort, strengthen and keep you;
he is willing to aid you,
he will carry you through”?
The verse ends with a determination to walk appropriately at home. We all know that it is in our homes that we reveal who we really are inside. People will walk around with suits and ties on when away from home, but the minute they step inside the door of their house, off comes the tie and coat! Out come the rags! Housewives cannot bother to keep their own house clean, but love to clean someone else’s house.
So before we can begin praising God through the great hymns and spiritual songs, we have to commit ourselves to learning to be a holy people all the time and in all things. Only then will the songs and actions complement each other and spiritual development can occur, and our witness will truly begin.
I refuse to view immorality
Psalm 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
There are times in our lives when our singing immediately stops. These are times when we are beholding things that are evil, and not right, or when things suddenly surprise us. If we are going to be able to sing, and sing continuously, we must learn to avoid looking upon those things that are evil. We must also learn to avoid spending time unnecessarily with those people who fall away from doing what is right.
As we toddle through Scripture, and we know so well through human experience, if we spend time with those who are not holy, we too will in become evil, and find an excuse for not following God and obeying Him as we should.
So what does this verse say about the entertainment industry? I think it would be quite obvious that if you stood up in the movie theater and began to sing in the Psalter, you'd be thrown out immediately. Worshiping and glorifying God in a place of entertainment, gambling, drinking, or places of business, is not only frowned upon, but illegal.
On the other hand, I had the privilege of being in the audience of an orchestra and united choir of the North-Western Baptist churches of the United States. The orchestra was selected by those in good standing in their churches, and involved in praising God with their orchestra instrument. They were issued music and encouraged to practice it with others in their church. Choir members were also selected the same way. Then months later, the various groups started meeting with the conductor to refine their parts. Then the whole group came together for a few practices and the final day came for the presentation. What a glorious time! It was a taste of the glories of Heaven!
As the rich heritage of sacred music resounded in the symphony chambers, you could not sit silently but had to join the mighty choir in praise to God. I tried to record it, but not only having a tape recorder, I got mostly the audience and not the quality I wanted from the musicians! But still it was a cherished recording till it was lost.
Many people had to make a choice that day. Where they going to sit at home and watch their favorite games and be entertained by the filth of this world, or were they going to lift their spirits to Heaven, and reflect on spiritual things! Some had to work, others were ill, but some simply could not afford to miss the “great” game that was on and is now forgotten forever, while those that went to this orchestration and participated will remember it forever.
The thing that was so refreshing is afterwards. Instead of people talking vainly as is apt at a large meeting, they were singing and glorifying God as they left. Try doing that after a bingo game, or a typical meal!
Recovering Alcoholics will tell you quite openly that they cannot have anything that has even a taste of alcohol in it, no matter how slight, because it awakens urges that are overpowering to have a drink. This includes beer-batters, vanilla flavoring, or wine cooked in food. The alcohol industry tells us to enjoy these things because the alcohol is cooked out. The truth is they develop a craving for the product that imparted the taste even among the seemingly innocent. It has been said that women became worthless drunks simply because of the beer they used to make bread or from the cooking wine they kept. When they started out as young mothers, they would never drink the stuff, but at some point they wondered what it tasted like, and after having eaten products made from it, they loved the taste. Then they just had to have tastes more often and loved the buzz it gave them. From there, things progress until nothing matters to them but getting another drink.
A child of God must ask themselves if they need to be in the place where they are not allowed to praise God openly and honestly before their fellowman. This is one of the best ways to clear our schedule of immoral and wasted time, by simply evaluating whether or not we can continue to praise God in those places. If we cannot, then it might be proper to do all we can to distance ourselves from such situations.
I block polluted thinking
Psalm 101:4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.
Singing of God's mercy and judgment is an incredible way to clear the mind of those pestering worries, those evil thoughts, and those impure habits. Singing holy songs lifts not only the heart and soul to God, but it closes the opportunity for what is evil to permeate and overtake us.
This kind of singing will automatically filter away worthless friends. It is amazing how many people hate holy music, and will do everything they can to avoid it.
Our singing not only testifies of whom we serve, but it also can quickly save and shield us from those that we may have fallen as prey. Those who were sold out to wickedness cannot tolerate right, nor can they stand to be near someone who does what is holy. It might be said that singing the songs of God can form a protective shield about you from which a great deal of harm can be repulsed before it can come near.
I end the friendship of slanderers
Psalm 101:5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
As we go about singing praises to God, there is another incredible advantage, but it takes a commitment from us first so that it will not interrupt our singing. There is a great deal of slander that goes on in society. The slander keeps us from praising God and honoring Him as we should. To listen to it, we must stop singing. To share it we must stop singing. The problem is when we cannot praise God with our lips, we are bringing shame to God and sin into our own lives.
Something should be said about slander. There is a factual recounting of events that is very right and proper to do. We are obligated to warn others of dangers that lurk. However, there is a fine line between warning people all the time, from a heart of superiority, and a humble warning to actually save a person from harm. Slander is the speaking of lies about another person in a hushed and hurtful way.
There has been several occasions when my daughters have come home from their place of employment in tears over the mean spirited things that were said about them by the customers where they work. The things said were supposedly done privately, but the timing was so bad it was overheard as they went past the gossipers. The gossiper is a slanderer and is only trying to impress others with their wonderful perceptions and expert opinion. But instead they hurt the hearer, hurt the object of their lies and create an atmosphere where it is hard to do what is right.
People born deaf people do not usually get people’s names down. Instead they use among themselves a descriptive language, that readily identifies a person to another deaf person. Calling people by their name leads to long descriptions and explanations in a language that is limited and fraught with misunderstanding of the intended signs.
One deaf person found it very difficult to know how to answer some people that wanted to know what another deaf person had said! They used a descriptive term to describe the person, but should it be translated literally and misunderstood? The world outside the perception of a deaf person is very different from our world. How will the terms be reacted to by a person that can talk freely? While historically the language of a deaf person is very helpful for other deaf people to know exactly who is being talked about, in a society where names are not known, it can degenerate very quickly into slander and evil talk. In fact, one deaf mother had to learn to carefully guard the company her daughter kept, because things would get unholy very quickly. There is a fine line between using terms about another that are factual and using terms that are simply evil.
Comments can carry incredible hurt. The book of James carries careful and detailed warnings about how dangerous the littlest member of our bodies, the tongue can be. It can start fires that destroy a whole society faster than a fire set by a match. It can send men hurling to their graves faster than a rudder on a ship.
There is an American President that does not seem to care about the things he says that are caught on tape and recorded after his speech is over. He has rebuked his audio people, but the news media still pick up them up. His comments consistently demonstrate a complete lack of respect for the American people in general, and the fact that he considers himself a superior demagogue of their lives for his own and other selfish interest.
A second thing that singing does is prohibit pride. Singing humbly before God does not leave room for vain glory. It is a very humbling thing to go about declaring who you are and whom you serve. It also has no time or place for responding to the proud look or the evil glance.
I keep company with faithful people
Psalm 101:6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.
Singing praises to God is an incredible way for us to find others who are saved and set apart to God. As people here singing praises to God, they recognize the tunes and hear the words, and it cannot help but bring them together in fellowship, if they are spiritually awake. It enables us to be able to keep an eye out for those who are also devout servants of God and to be able to help encourage them in their walk along the way.
The cost of living day by day requires help from other people. They say: “Good help is hard to find!” When a person is living a separated and holy life, he will find friends who are Christians and who can help in that day of need, who are dependable and who are truly helpful. There is nothing worse than having friends that you cannot rely on in and who will not help you when you have need. Singing to God wherever we go enables us to find those whom God would have us know.
There is a verse that has caused a great deal of misunderstanding in Christian history because of a lack of knowledge of other verses of Scripture, such as this one. It is:
Philippians 2:4-7 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
“He shall serve me” may be a proper translation, but it misses the gist of the original words. These are spiritual words of ministry. It has to do with the spiritual work of the priesthood, or as angels work to serve God. The point is that David was committing himself to watching through his music for people that were faithful to God so that he could minister to God with them.
This is how the Philippians passage is to be understood. It is not about how we are to watch other people’s things, and so leads to the belief that everyone’s things should be shared equally or taken as desired. Instead it is about being selfish, and not looking for ways to help others. To make sure the point is made the following verses tell how unselfish Christ Jesus was in giving up His power, glory, and honor to become the humblest of people, and so serving them by ministering to their needs by noticing they were hungry and obtaining food for them, noticing their physical problems and bringing healing, and by challenging them in their thinking to accept Scripture and reject the commentators and religious potentates of the day.
Singing holy songs is a step toward moving in a holy direction, that enables us to join in praise with others that want to be holy.
I only allow honest people to be at my house
Psalm 101:7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.
If we are going to sing praises to God and use our lips in holy service, we cannot allow those who lie and deceive in our own home. We also cannot do business with those who are not honest. Dishonesty will take away from our time of singing, and will mire us deeply in the consequences of it. In serving God we just simply do not have time to spend worthlessly.
There was once a fellow that I thought was very interested in becoming holy. He was coming to the weekly Bible study and was interested, even coming to church now and then. He was in need of a Christian atmosphere, and I was in need of an employee. I worked out a contract where we would help him as long as he sought to learn to be holy. Things did not start out very well. He arrived high on drugs. He did not work, and soon had rotten people coming to visit. I felt bad to have to kick him out, but I had to make sure my family was safe, and my time and limited resources were not wasted.
Another fellow I know had a wife that opened the doors of her home to all kinds of riff-raff. She was supposed to be homeschooling her children, but never seemed to get around to it. She had endless time to take care of her many male friends she boarded, and for coddling herself, but none for her own family. Her husband got so tired of being ignored, he simply moved to another house and took whatever children wanted to come. Surprisingly enough the girls all left to be with their dad.
I start each day by ridding the town of evildoers
Psalm 101:8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD.
Singing to God means that we are entering the fight with God. It means that we are going to have to do our part politically in order to see that wickedness is curtailed. Part of the greatest job of the Christian is doing their part to stem the flow of evil in society. Those who do not have God do not have an understanding of what is right and wrong. It is only a Christian who can understand why it is important to see that evil men and criminals be appropriately dealt with.
Again since we are singing of God's mercy and justice, this will require laws that will be implemented in society where there are Christians doing their job. There will be other laws that are rejected because Christians are doing their job.
For example: our Country is said to have a presence now of a population that is 5% Moslem. This is a frightening thing when you consider the facts. Even our precious little quite town has been invaded by this evil, hateful and violent people. From this minority however, the lowest rate of incarceration is over 18% of the prison population! Then when you figure in all the laws protecting them from “racial profiling” and hear of the many most wanted men that are released almost daily from local police in daily contacts with this criminal element, you realize there is a real problem with them as a whole. It should be pointed out that prisoners love becoming a Moslem because they vow to destroy America and all Americans. They also do not have to change their ways or repent of their sins. Full atonement is achieved by simply killing an American.
Now if such a small minority of this country now has a popular presidential candidate running for office that has sworn to reject the Bible and everything Christian, where are the Christians in this country? Why are they sitting so quietly letting their own country become invaded by hosts of people who hate them and want them to be killed?
When we moved into the house we have at this time, it was fairly frightening because of the neighbors that report anything and everything to the city government. At first, I came ready to fight. And there were a couple times we had visits from the City telling us we would have change some things. But, we were willing to comply and did so, so that was the end of it. Each time the city officials were very courteous and kind about the visit. Now, after living there a few years, I am very thankful for those people who make it their duty to be vigilant in keeping our neighborhood free of troublemakers. Because of their actions, we have had some bad people run off, and have managed to keep some good families in the neighborhood that were ready to move up to larger quarters. While we all get nervous every time another house goes up for sale, knowing the kind of people that are moving into our country, so far things have been kept orderly and quiet.
I also used to think I had a grandfather that may have been a bit too ready to sue others. He sued the contractor that built his house, and it resulted in him losing his license. He lived across the street to make matters worse! However, after actually living in the house and having to deal with the problems that resulted from the poor construction of the house, I am glad the contractor had been stopped. The house is now almost 30 years old, and the original problems continue to plague those that live there, even though the majority had been repaired.
What would things be like for the rest of us, if those in our neighborhood were not vigilant? What would things be like for many more home dwellers in Redding if people did not stop shoddy construction practices?
But all cannot be done politically, it also must become spiritually. It is our job to do all we can to snatch people from the fire:
Jude 22-23. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
If people are not getting saved and turning to God with their whole heart, then we are not using our talents that God has given us to their full ability. Maybe one of them is just singing sacred songs as we go about our duties each day…
Topic Study
Walking with God
By Pastor Clinton Macomber
Enoch’s walk with God enabled him to go to heaven early.
Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Noah’s walk with God resulted in great things
Genesis 6:9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
Walking in God’s ways brings physical blessings
Deuteronomy 5:33 Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.
Blessedness comes from avoiding ungodly counsel in our walk
Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Protection comes to those who walk uprightly
Proverbs 2:7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
Following Jesus Christ means not walking in darkness
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
No condemnation comes to those who walk after the Spirit
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Walking is to be done honestly and as if openly
Romans 13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
Walking is to be by faith
2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
Walking is to be self-sacrificing
Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
A worthy walk is a fruitful and growing walk
Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Christians have to learn to walk in Christ Jesus
Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Walking in the light brings fellowship and cleansing
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Love is demonstrated by walking according to the Commandments
2 John 6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
A pure walk here means a walk in white in Heaven
Revelation 3:4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
Quote
I will walk within my house with a perfect heart, Psalm 101:2
Frederick Brotherton Meyer, Our Daily Homily
(Redding, CA: Pleasant Places Press, 2004). Vol. 3 page 101
This is the hardest place to walk in perfectly. It seems easier to walk perfectly among strangers than in one’s own house. But you may rest assured that a man is really no better than he is to his own. You must not gauge your worth by what the outside world thinks and says, but by the estimate of those that see you in the ordinary intercourse of the home.
To be perfectly courteous to those whom you are meeting at every meal; to hold yourself under perfect control when worried by tiny insidious jars, and stung by almost invisible gnats; to maintain always the perfect girding of the loins; to have the head always anointed and the face always washed; to realize God’s ideal, love’s ideal, and your own. Ah, me! this requires the utmost grace that God can give. To die once is easy; to live always with an undivided heart, this is hard.
Understand that in the home-life God is educating and training you for the greatest victories. There you are learning the deepest lessons in sanctification. You need not ran to conventions, sermons, and holiness meetings; if you would resolve to walk in your house with a perfect heart, you would discover how far from perfect you are, and how you are the least of his saints. Seek the perfect heart in your home-life; for then God will come unto you, and dwell beneath your roof, and the story of Bethany would be reduplicated for your household and yourself.
“Perhaps ‘a single heart’ is never known,
Save in the yielded life that lives for God alone;
And that is therefore doubted as a dream
By those who know not the tremendous power
Of all-constraining love.”
Devotions
Monday, Psalm 101:1 and Ezekiel 3:1-5
Before we can open our mouth in singing to God, we must fill ourselves with the Word of God. God's Word must totally permeate our lives and completely fill our thoughts and actions. Afterwards this filling of God's Word, will enable us to see God's mercy and His judgment. The purpose of singing and praise is to glorify God. As we go about our tasks glorifying God, we also spread a message to our fellowman. One of the hardest places to honor God is among our friends and relatives. But if we cannot honor God in praising Him at home, how can we minister to those we do not know?
Tuesday, Psalm 101:2-3 and Ezekiel 3:6-9
In order to praise God, we must first learn to behave properly. When we are among those that know us, they are often quick to remind us of our humanity and of the ways we do not fit their ideas of social norms. But when we step out and are determined to live a holy life with the help of God, with His Words filling us, He hardens us and empowers us to resist the fiery darts of the wicked. Only when our heart is in tune with God, and we hate the things that God hates, are we truly able to praise Him in an effective manner.
Wednesday, Psalm 101:4 and Ezekiel 3:10-14
God gives us His Word each day, if we will accept it. When we do accept His Word, we are expected to use it to speak His Words to those around us. The problem is if we look upon our so-called friends, we will not share with them the Word of God. Looking at them drives godliness from our hearts. The only way to honor God with our lips is to not set them before us, but keep God ever before us, and to have Him permeate our thoughts and deeds. We must see and hear our Savior instead of them. Our flesh and soul may feel like Ezekiel’s, and respond bitterly, wishing someone else had the task, but that is often the first step in the first test of obedience. Will we obey, even though we do not want to?
Thursday, Psalm 101:5-6 and Ezekiel 3:15-18
Before we can effectively witness to others and truly praise God, we must take the next step of learning to notice those who are faithful and true to God. We have a responsibility to warn those who are not. There is an evil doctrine that comes in many forms, one of them being the brotherhood of all mankind. In one essence this is true, because we all descended from Adam. This relationship compels us to warn our fellowman of the judgment that will come. The concept however breaks down rather quickly when it comes to fellowship with them, because fellowship rarely has a visualizing of the goals that God has for each person, but instead has a goal of how we can fit in with the group. It is not God’s will that we condone the evil in those about us, by keeping silent, and avoiding any repercussions that may come from speaking out. If we do not speak out, we are held liable before God for the punishment that will come upon the wicked.
Friday, Psalm 101:7 and Ezekiel 3:19-23
Part of warning the wicked is letting them know why we cannot have fellowship with them, and host them in our own house. It also involves encouraging those who are doing the right thing, to remain faithful and not heap upon themselves judgment by returning to sin. Not only is that righteous person blessed, having a friend who loves God enough to warn him, and encourage him to continue in the way of righteousness, but we enjoy the blessing from God for having done the right thing. How is our influence in the world? Is it for righteousness or something else?
Saturday, Psalm 101:8 and Ezekiel 3:24-27
There is one important thing that we cannot forget. It is that when we are ready to take on the armor of God and stand up against the evil of society, we will also bear the consequences of such a battle. Society will do everything in their power to stop us and force us into quietness. They will try to make us physically weak and incapacitated from the fight. However, when God has something for us to say and do, He will empower us and enable us to do so. All He asks is that we commit ourselves to standing for righteousness and make ourselves willing servants to be His spokesman whenever He asks us to speak. That is the blessedness of walking with God and in humility in this world.
Puzzle
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Word Choices:
| ASIDE | HOUSE | SUFFER |
| BEHAVE | LAND | TARRY |
| CLEAVE | LIES | TELLETH |
| DECEIT | LOOK | THING |
| DEPART | NEIGHBOUR | WALKETH |
| DOERS | PERFECT | WHOSO |
| DWELL | PERSON | WICKED |
| EARLY | PRIVILY | WILL |
| EYES | SERVE | WISELY |
| FAITHFUL | SIGHT | WITHIN |
| FROWARD | SING | WORKETH |
| HEART | SLANDERETH |
The Puzzle solution is found here....
