Friday, July 21, 2017
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my
anxious thoughts. Point out anything in
me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalm 139:23-24(NLT)
The
Psalmist invited God; you know, the all-powerful, ever-present, and all-knowing
Creator of the universe – that God, to know everything about him from the
inside-out. He invited God to check out
all his faults and bring them out for debate and correction! That would not be a fun time for an
introverted, private person like me! It’s
like appearing on national television, emotionally-naked as the day you were
born.
What the
Psalmist wrote…pretty scary stuff, I’d say.
After all, why would you want to expose your worst side to the One who
could remove you from the universe without breaking a sweat?
But then,
notice the end of this invitation:
…and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
What’s
going on in this prayer is that the writer instinctively understands that the
grand prize and privilege of eternal life and joy with God, creator and
sustainer of all that is seen and unseen in the universe, carries with it the
hard work of removing obstacles that would block that relationship. Sometimes you’ve just got to undergo surgery
if you want to get well!
And that’s
the whole issue with being in relationship with God; sickness, anger, lust,
greed, sloth…all those and more; those are just not welcome in the presence of
He who is holy! And so the Psalm-writer
makes it a point to fast and get ready for the operating room, where the Holy
Surgeon is going to open his life for examination and cure.
For You Today
When
is the last time you opened yourself up to God like that?
If
you’re ready…block out the time; hang out the do not disturb sign; turn off the cell and home phones; make
sure the TV, CD, DVD, IPad, IPod, and every other usual distraction is turned
off…and then hit the knees and write that invitation across your heart: Search
ME, O God! Then…be quiet!
NOTES
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