How do I live my life? Am I taken captive by shenanigus behavior because my fancy has been tickled? Are there times when our team wins a championship and the happiness is so overwhelming we start cars on fire and trash our surroundings? What is that? Let's see...my favorite team just won I think I'll go light someones car on fire. Are we all nuts? Do we get in a big group and our minds explode?
"I wouldn't do that!"
"Not me..."
"Would I...?"
What about my job...Am I willing to use someones head as a step-stool to get to the next level? Do I point out someones idiosyncrasies to boost my groove factor? Maybe I "like" someone to make them think I'm all in to their ideas. How about, "I'll pray for you" and then not lift my eyes toward heaven?
Is all this much different then burning a car because I'm ecstatic? Could it be worse? At least when I get up the next morning and all the hubbub has burned down I may understand that I was an idiot and hopefully make restitution. But what happens if I wound a heart and turn them away from the Savior?
These types of willful acts seem to easily become part of my life that I justify, continue....and oh so righteously.
Psalms 5:4-6 says:
You are not a God who
takes pleasure in evil;
With you the wicked
cannot dwell.
The arrogant cannot stand
in Your presence;
You hate all who do
wrong.
You destroy those who tell
lies;
Bloodthirsty and deceitful
men
The Lord abhors.
Abhors, ooh, that's not good. I used to read these words and think that "our" world was going to the dogs. Is it much closer than that? Could it be "my" world? Am I paying attention?
Verse 9
Not a word from their
mouth can be trusted:
Their heart is filled with
destruction.
Their throat is an open
grave;
With their tongue they
speak deceit.
Sure, group behavior easily turns to raucous nonsense and corrals all it's followers into the "open grave". But what about me? Does my throat spew things that pull others away from this God I love tossing them into a longing tomb of confusion about my Savior? Grumbling, bickering, gossip and pride...I guess I have some work to do.
Now what? Well, like always, God opens His arms to me?
Psalms 5:11
But let all who take refuge
in you be glad;
Let them sing for joy.
Spread your protection
over them,
that those who love your
name may rejoice in
You.
For surely, O Lord you
bless the righteous;
You surround them with
your favor as with a
shield.
How is my shield? I must keep my faith strong. I must pursue God with my whole heart. If I do, He will help clear my throat and shut that open grave.
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