Abide on the Holy Hill of the Lord
15 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. Psalm 15 (KJV)
The Morning Exhortation
Vanity of vanities (Ecclesiastes 1:2) is the pursuit of happiness apart from the pursuit of God (Psalm 119:9; Philippians 3:7-15). It is normal to want a long life filled with good health and much happiness (Jeremiah 17:7-8). It’s just that without being built on truth (Isaiah 28:9-10), there can be no lasting happiness (Psalm 49:11-12). Things and circumstances can make one happy (Ecclesiastes 10:19), but without the removal of the evil desires of the heart (Matthew 15:19), happiness wilts as surely as any cut flower (Matthew 13:6). The key to lasting happiness is trusting the Lord (Proverbs 16:20). Not living to do our own thing (Proverbs 14:12-13), for that is the broad way that leads only to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). Rather live to do the will of God and thereby overcome the evil of this present age by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (James 1:21).
Question
Why does a happy life take more than lots of money, being pretty, or having a big butt and strong muscles?
Answer
No matter how nice the external things of this life are that we possess, sooner or later the true character of the heart will rise to totally eclipse all (Proverbs 9:13-18; Proverbs 30:20; Proverbs 6:25; Proverbs 23:1-8; Proverbs 4:13-27).
The Prayer Appointed for This Week
O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread; Open the eyes of my faith, that I may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. from the Book of Common Prayer
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