The beauty of the Lord

Good Morning:

I was captivated this morning by the Lord’s beauty.

Psalm 27:4 

“One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.”

The above passage of scripture has always challenged me because of what Paul said in 2 Corinthians  

2 Corinthians 3:18

“Don't you know that your body is a temple that belongs to the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit, whom you received from God, lives in you. You don't belong to yourselves.”

When it comes to walking this out, I find that I sometimes need to go through this mental exercise:

I choose to continually come before God in His living place (which is my body)

I choose to worship Him in Spirit and truth (which is in my mind – and He provides the sacrifice offering)

As I worship, I surrender to the beauty of His presence as He fills His Holy temple (my body) 

This is somewhat simplistic in it’s approach I know, but it works for me.  It offends my engineering mind, thereby it challenges me by it’s sheer simplicity.

The Bible says that “God inhabits in the praises of His people” (Psalms 22:3). In other words, God “lives” in the atmosphere of His praise. God always provides the sacrifice offering.  Look at the story of Moses at the burning bush.  This means that praise is not merely a reaction from coming into His presence - Praise is a vehicle which God provides that draws us into the power of His presence!  Praise and worship is the “gateway” which allows us to enter into the throne room and witness the beauty of His glory. The psalmist writes:

Psalms 100:4

 “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name”

Again, it is His praise through us, not ours alone.  Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice of praise, and is the ultimate expression of Love.  I am drawn this morning to Song of Solomon (below) as an amazing word picture of the power of God’s Love through us.

Song of Solomon 8 : 6-7

Wear me as a signet ring on your heart,

    as a ring on your hand.

Love is as overpowering as death.

Devotion is as unyielding as the grave.

    Love’s flames are flames of fire,

        flames that come from the Lord.

7             Raging water cannot extinguish love,

                and rivers will never wash it away.