Verse of the Day 7/15

Psalm 26:8 Lord, I love the house where You dwell,

the place where Your glory resides.    Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Most of you that receive these posts know our oldest son Jeff.  He suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident at the age of 16 which has left him physically disabled.  Many would think that his is now a simple life.  Sometimes my wife Jean and I joke that he has a busier life than us, with a day program and an aide that takes him to many activities and places in the community.  But I would have to say that his favorite place to go is to church where many would say that he is our Pastor Bob's biggest fan.  Jeff appreciates Pastor Bob, but he knows who it is all about and he lets everyone know with his woo -hoos and amens!

Today's verse came up in my daily devotional reading in the Psalms.  As I read the verse I had to stop and smile and think about Jeff, his love of the Lord, his love of the place where His glory dwells.  At the same time, I realize that His glory doesn't simply reside in the church.  It is in the hearts of His people and His glory shines as He shines His  face, His glory on us and we sing His praise, yes, in the church but also wherever we go where are hearts are tuned to Him and we hear and do His will.

He dwells in the sanctuary, He dwells in our homes, our places of business and He dwells in our hearts.  My devotional reading also brought me to Deuteronomy chapter 4 where I read the following statement from Max Lucado in my "Life Lessons Study Bible" -

"You were intended to live in your Father's house. Any place less than His is insufficient. Any place far from His is dangerous. Only the home built for your heart can protect your heart. And your Father wants you to dwell in Him. —Max Lucado (The Great House of God)"

Think about that.  We were made, created with the intention to live, to dwell in our Father's house.  Any place short of that will leave us empty and feeling insufficient.   Why would we want to live anywhere else? 

John Piper writes, "The self was never designed to satisfy itself or rely upon itself.  It can never be sufficient.  We are but in the image of God, not God himself.  We are shadows and echoes.  So there will always be an emptiness in the soul that struggles to be satisfied with the resources of self."

Ecclesiastes 3:11He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 

English Standard Version (ESV)

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Psalm 26:8-10The Message (MSG)

^8-10     God, I love living with you;
    your house glows with your glory.
When it's time for spring cleaning,
    don't sweep me out with the quacks and crooks,
Men with bags of dirty tricks,
    women with purses stuffed with bribe-money.