5 First Names

 "Who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind;" Psalms 15:4b In Psalms 15, David essentially asks, "who can dwell with God?" and describes the character of a righteous man. The righteous list is overwhelming. I have fallen short on every point. I could never meet the criteria. Without the blood of Jesus Christ washing away the sin, I could never occupy a space in His presence. Under His mercy, I strive to understand and take action to become a servant who is a little more worthy today than yesterday. I dwell on the implications of David's words and apply my flawed understanding, praying for the grace to cover my ignorance and character in progress. The second part of the 4th verse is especially salient. The statement does not violate Leviticus 5:4, which condemns thoughtless oaths, but considers the complete description of righteousness which compounds blamelessness, truthfulness, honesty, humbleness, generosity, and carefully considered...

The Bible offers nuanced guidance regarding trust in people, balancing the wisdom of cautious discernment with the commandment to love and serve others. Wisdom and Discernment: The Bible advises using wisdom and discernment in whom we trust. Proverbs 14:15 says, "The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps." This suggests that while it's not wrong to trust, one should be thoughtful and discerning about it. The use of the word steps implies an observational component to trust. We should walk but pay attention to the outcomes of our actions and their impact on others. Trust in God Above All: The Bible strongly emphasizes trusting God above humans. Psalm 118:8-9 states, "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes." This highlights the idea that ultimate trust should be placed in God, not in fallible people. The misunderstanding here is not that we shou...