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The Standard


The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; (Psalm 19:7-10) 

            In one of the episodes of the original Battlestar: Gallactica, Starbuck was on some world and working a bunch of kids. The kids started talking about God’s judgment. I don’t remember the conversation well, except that Starbuck said something about God being lenient about some things in his life. Knowing Starbuck, this statement got smiles. Yes, God would have to be lenient with Starbuck. Likewise, though for different reasons, God will need to be lenient with me, and lenient with you.
            That’s what many people think, that God will just have to be lenient. Perhaps He’ll let judge on a curve. I’m not as bad as Stalin, Mao, or Hitler. I’m just a (name your pet sin) so I get a pass. Perhaps He’ll let me judge myself. Those who aren’t CINOs (Christian-in-name-only) know that there is no curve. It’s pass/fail and the only way to pass is to get 100%. The only ones who don’t fail are those who by grace have received and accepted Jesus’s test paper to hand in along with theirs.
            Even as Christians, our own test scores will matter. If God’s standards change when one becomes a Christian, they get tougher. That’s why God’s grace is new every morning. Those standards include prayerfulness and are a reason for prayerfulness. Mr. Bounds says, “No standard of religion is worth a moment’s notice which leaves prayer out of the account…. So necessary is prayer, so fundamental in God’s plan, so all important to everything like a religious life, that it enters into all biblical religion. Prayer itself is a standard, definite, emphatic, scriptural. A life of prayer is the divine rule… Prayer is the measure. Prayer molds the life.” (p. 125-126)
            Lord God, forgive me of my prayerlessness. Forgive me for trying to live this life on my own, for setting my own standards. Teach me how to pray. Teach me to seek You and find You in prayer. Stir up my negligent heart, and direct my distracted mind to Your purposes in prayer. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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