Psalms 15:1-5 (NLT)
1 A psalm of David. Who may worship in your sanctuary, LORD? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?
2 Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts.
3 Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends.
4 Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the LORD, and keep their promises even when it hurts.
5 Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.
The standard hasn’t changed. He’s still the same uncompromisingly Holy God who has no tolerance for ungodly behaviors that go directly against His heart of love. It is such an extreme standard, though, that none of us could attain it on our own. I’m so grateful for the wonderful blood of Jesus that qualifies us, not just as free from unacceptable actions and attitudes, but declares us to be a representative of His very nature in righteousness. We can go with all boldness and confidence into the sanctuary, the Holy of Holies, and take on His acceptable likeness by faith. What is so wonderful about this is that the transformation into this required identification with holiness comes through belief in His work instead of our inability to do so. The change is still required, but it comes through the power of the Spirit and not the flesh. Going there should be frequent and highly gratifying, especially when we feel so far less than what is required. His grace is faithful to surround us with an embrace that is undeserved apart from the work of the cross. He seats us in His lofty standard and makes us partakers of His very nature.