The Dos and Don’ts of the Heavenly Journey

Daily Devotional – Wednesday, May 12, 2022
LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?
Psalms 15:1 (NIV)

To achieve anything of lasting value, one has to pay a price. This cost could be in form of relationships, time, money and other resources. The sacrifices can be summarized as a list of dos and don’ts. There are habits to drop and others to adopt.

To enter heaven, too, you have to adhere to a list of dos and don’ts. David’s version is found in Psalm 15. He begins by asking, “LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?” (Psalm 15:1).

The answers are in verses 2-5:
1. Do: walk uprightly
2. Do what is righteous
3. Do: speak the truth from your heart
4. Don’t backbite
5. Don’t harm others
6. Don’t speak evil concerning your friend
7. Do: despise those who do evil
8. Do: Honor those who fear the Lord
9. Do: Keep your promises even it hurts to do so
10. Don’t lend money to the poor at an interest
11. Don’t accept bribes to hurt people who are not guilty.

A critical analysis of these traits reveals that they fall either within the works of the flesh or the fruit of the Spirit (Read Galatians 5:19-32).

We do not strive to produce works of the flesh because we are sinful by nature. However, to produce the fruit of the Spirit, we must allow the Holy Spirit to live in us and transform us.

In essence, we can live by David’s dos and don’ts only by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The crux is that the road to heaven is narrow and it requires some sacrifices.

Prayer
Father, by Your grace and power, transform my life to fit into heaven.