"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Tuesday, 24 January 2017 with Scripture Psalm 15

"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Tuesday, 24 January 2017 with Scripture Psalm 15-------

Psalm 15:(0) A psalm of David:
(1) Adonai, who can rest in your tent?
Who can live on your holy mountain?
2 Those who live a blameless life,
who behave uprightly,
who speak truth from their hearts
3 and keep their tongues from slander;
who never do harm to others
or seek to discredit neighbors;
4 who look with scorn on the vile,
but honor those who fear Adonai;
who hold to an oath, no matter the cost;
5 who refuse usury when they lend money
and refuse a bribe to damage the innocent.
Those who do these things
never will be moved.[Complete Jewish Bible]
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When I was growing up our family prefaced meals with a blessing: "Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest." The psalmist begins, to some extent, with the inverse, wondering to whom the Lord may say, "Come, my people, be my guest."
What kind of guests are a blessing and especially wanted in God's home? Those who arrive with an appetite to love, honor, enjoy and care for the other guests at the table. "Those who do these things shall never be moved." In other words, the Lord seeks to welcome people to the holy dwelling, saying, "Don't leave yet! There's another course coming and this meal, this company, just wouldn't be the same without you!"
Holy God, I hear the invitation to abide with you. Help me to love, honor and serve others with all that I am and all that I have, bringing me to an everlasting place in your tent, on your holy hill. In Christ's name I pray. Amen.
Natalie Hall, '09
Canon for Evangelism and Faith Formation, Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh 
Psalm 15:1 O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill?
2 Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart;
3 who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends, nor take up a reproach against their neighbors;
4 in whose eyes the wicked are despised, but who honor those who fear the Lord; who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
5 who do not lend money at interest, and do not take a bribe against the innocent. Those who do these things shall never be moved.[New Revised Standard Version]
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