The Pilgrim Path---Psalm 27: 4

One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life.

ONE THING…

My---my…desires: More money? The praise of people? Control? Newer stuff to replace the “old” stuff? To finally have a day with no pain…To be around people who aren’t a pain? To have someone genuinely listen---without immediate condemnation. Well, there are longings that are legitimate. Yet, what is our chief yearning? My---my…desires…

The Holy Spirit has King David help us a little. Just “reflect” upon his reflection in Psalm 27:

---we must plan to seek the LORD everyday…

---we cannot always be “up” at the church---but we must strive to have the LORD in our thoughts…

---we should make the LORD the focus of our lives---and our time is running out…

---we need to comb the Holy Scriptures to “see” just how beautiful the LORD really is…

---we need to glance at our problems and gaze at the LORD…Robert Murray M’Cheyne used to say, “for every look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ.”

---we need to spend more time asking the LORD what HE wants---rather than telling HIM what to do…

---we need the LORD. He is present where His Word is sung, taught, preached, prayed, and His sacraments administered. His beauty and bounty flow from heaven to His People--- in His Church.

---we “seek” Him---because He first sought us and made us His Own---Thanks be to God!

From Richard Sibbes: The first work of grace is to set the soul in tune and order; to set the right price on things and to rank them as he should. What is your desire? The bent and sway of the soul shows what a man is. David used all means to enjoy communion with God sweetly. Those that pretend they have good desires, yet live scandalously and negligently, alas, this is a sluggard’s desire. David’s “one thing” was above all other things whatsoever! If we find these holy desires, Oh! Let us take comfort, for God will fulfill the desires of them that fear him (Psalm 37: 4). Holy desires are the birth of God’s Holy Spirit and there is not one of them that shall be lost!

From Charles Haddon Spurgeon: We should make our visits to the LORD’S house enquirer’s meetings. Not seeking sinners alone, but assured saints should be enquirers. We must enquire as to the will of God and how we may do it; as to our interest in the heavenly city, and how we may be more assured of it. We shall not need to make enquiries in heaven, for there we shall know even as we are known; but meanwhile we should sit at Jesus’ feet, and awaken all our faculties to learn of him.

HYMN

Open now thy gates of beauty, Zion, let me enter there,

Where my soul in joyful duty waits for him who answers prayer.

Oh, how blessed is the place, filled with solace, light, and grace!

LORD, my God, I come before thee, come thou also unto me;

Where we find thee and adore thee, there a heav’n on earth must be.

To my heart, O enter thou, let it be thy temple now!

Here thy praise is gladly chanted, here thy seed is duly sown;

Let my soul, where it is planted, bring forth precious sheaves alone,

So that all I hear may be fruitful unto life in me.

Benjamin Schmolck, 1732 / Translated by Catherine Winkworth, 1863

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason