14 May | Teens
«He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart….He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.» Psalm 15: 2,3
What does it take to be close to God? In Psalm 15, the psalmist asks a very important question: “Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?” In other words, he's asking who can be in God's presence. The answer is simple but very important: “He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart; […] Nor does evil to his neighbor […]. He who does these things shall never be moved.” These are great qualities for us to pursue, don't you think?
These verses of the Bible teache us how to live in a way that is pleasing to God. To have integrity is to be honest and truthful, as when we keep a promise or return something that is not ours. Practicing justice means treating everyone equally and correctly, without being unfair or leaving anyone out. To speak the truth from the heart is to always tell the truth, even if it is difficult at times. And not to harm others is to treat people with kindness and respect, without hurting anyone, neither with words nor with actions. Those who live like this, following these good behaviors, will not be shaken! What's more, he will live with God on his holy mountain.
Take Action
For a week, choose to do acts of kindness without anyone knowing it was you. It could be leaving a note of encouragement for someone, helping with a homework assignment anonymously, or anything else that shows kindness and care. The goal is to do good things without expecting recognition or praise. At the end of the week, reflect on how it felt to do these secret acts of kindness. Remember, even if no one else sees it, God sees what's in your heart and rejoices in your acts of love and kindness.