King of the Hill

Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. Psalm 24:3-4 In the business world, many people get to the top by climbing over others on the way. They want to be “king of the hill” and nothing or nobody is going to stop them. But in the spiritual world, the goal isn’t to stand in power in front of stakeholders; it’s to stand in humility and inner strength before the Lord. In the awkward time between his anointing and his coronation as king, David had many opportunities to take shortcuts and compromise his integrity. Saul chased David and his men through deserts and towns, and on several occasions David could have killed Saul and taken the throne immediately. His most trusted and loyal followers urged him to do just that. But each time, David refused to rush into success. He trusted God to accomplish His purposes and in His timing. Through times of being misunderstood, attacked, and betrayed, David had “clean hands and a pure heart.” He trusted God even in the darkest days; he kept telling the truth. One of the most significant features of David’s life was the loyalty of his men. In him, they saw a man they could trust, a man who spoke the unvarnished truth and followed God with his whole heart. Even before David became the king of Israel, his character (not his title or position) won the hearts of his men. What are some temptations you face to take shortcuts to gain (self) promotions at work, at home, at church, or in your community? What would it take for you to act like David and have “clean hands and a pure heart”? I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com