Psalm 15

O Lord, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a reprobate is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; he swears to his own hurt and does not change; he does not put out his money at interest, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.^[1]

Faith is not a concept but a lifestyle. In the realm of faith, belief and trust is that which one consistently exercises. Faith in that sense is not a noun, if you will, but an action verb. It is, in the words of one commentator, tactical and practical. It goes beyond what one says or espouses but instead goes to the heart or the core of our souls. It fundamentally defines who we are in Christ. Contrary to the opinion of some, our faith is not demonstrated through any of the outward trappings many have tried over time to use as litmus tests, but is is rather evidenced through certain traits that have the effect of building character in us.

Psalm 15 may seem an odd text to reference in commenting on what it means to live in the realm of faith, but a closer look reveals an image of who may dwell on the holy hill. Though it does not use the word faith specifically, it reveals the traits of faith that will produce results. Among these results will be:

• Walking in integrity
• Working in righteousness
• Speaking the truth in one’s heart
• Declining to slander another
• Refusal to do evil to one’s neighbor or take up a reproach against one’s friend
• Despising the reprobate
• Honoring the one who fears the Lord
• Transparent and consistent
• Does not charge interest or take bribes

When one has these results evidenced in their life they possess the kind of faith that prevents them from ever being shaken. It is this is the kind of tactical and practical faith that characterizes what it means to dwell in the realm of faith. What kind of results are evidenced in your life?

Dear Lord, enable us to operate in the realm of faith with that which produces result; with that which is tactical and practical. Forgive us for talking the talk without walking the walk. Forgive us for going through the motions and not modeling that which would move others to long for the kind of faith they see in us. Give us a desire and zeal for a real and working faith, one that causes the principles in Psalm 15 be evidenced in is us and pleasing to You. This we ask in the name of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus. Amen.

^[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ps 15:1–5.