Psalm 139
Highlighting – “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (v. 23 – 24)
God is all-knowing and sees our deepest thoughts and feelings that others may never be aware of. What I love about this Psalm is that David is praising God for His omniscience and calling on the Lord to search his mind and heart to convict him of anything unpleasing to God within him. Here David is telling God to check his sincerity regarding not being like those who are wicked, but if there be any grievous way in him, for God to make it known so that he may turn away from it (please read the chapter for context). Then he implores the Lord to show him the way everlasting – the narrow path to eternal life.
Salvation is personal. When we try to remove our own sin first, then we are better equipped to help others do the same. May we make this part of our prayers daily, if we don’t already. Let us ask God, what behaviors, attitudes and speech do I have that is disgusting in Your sight? God rewards us for blessed things we do in secret (Matthew makes many references to things done in secret and not for show/to be praised by men, in chapter 6). Knowing that God is omniscient and omnipresent should be reason enough for us not to say certain things, go places we shouldn’t and act the way we do.
At times, we get so caught up in trying to fix others that we forget to look within ourselves for those internal sins that may be leading us (quietly) astray – hate, anger, malice, slander, pride, jealousy, envy, bitterness, lust, the list goes on. In a sermon delivered at our church once by a guest speaker, he asked, “How many of you call yourselves Christian, but expose your brother or sister’s sin to one another?” This should not be so (but it happens often – gossip). He also said “outsiders” should not know about problems happening within your choir, church, etc. His sermon was truly edifying and served as a reminder of our decrepit spiritual state and how much we ALL NEED JESUS!
The Christian walk is not easy. It’s for good reason that Scriptures say wide is the gate that leads to destruction and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it (Matthew 7:13 – 14). This chapter in Matthew is heavy because he also says in verses 21 – 23 that not everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will enter Heaven. In 2 Timothy 2:19b, Paul states, “for those who call upon the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” However, calling on the name of the Lord doesn’t serve as affirmation that they will. But thank God for the Holy Spirit, our Helper, who makes living a righteous life possible – make room for Him to move in your life!
Ask yourself, what is the condition of my heart?
Prayer: Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. In Jesus name I pray, amen!
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