We are five days into 2016. I pray that you are finding delight in your time with Jesus through worship and the Word every day. Spending consistent, quality time with the Lord is a commitment, but it’s one that you will never regret.
I LOVE the Psalms. I have been reading a Psalm every day for almost fifteen years. One year, I tried to deviate from that and I couldn’t. I missed those familiar verses too much! The Psalms express such a range of emotions, mostly from David, but also from some other writers. The words help me express my emotions in healthy ways–by trusting in God.
The author of Psalm 1 is unknown, but he shares deep wisdom and amazing promises from God.
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2, NIV).
What a beautiful vision of one who chooses not to walk in unrighteousness! Notice the progression from walking to standing to sitting. We oftentimes have good intentions that may border on something sinful, but if we choose to walk in it, we will eventually sit down in that sin. The one who is blessed chooses not to even walk with the wicked. Period.
We may have to make some difficult choices and even make some people mad. But God calls us here in His Word to make that choice to delight in His Word and not in what is wicked. I have found that the more I delight in and meditate on God’s Word, the less difficulty I have in choosing what is right.
But oh, how awesome to delight in God and His Word! Jesus has done far more for me than anyone I may worry about upsetting by my choices. His love and His truth will satisfy every need if we look to Him and trust in Him and choose His way.
“He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers” (Psalm 1:3).
I don’t know about you, but I want to bear fruit for Jesus and not wither in difficult times. I want to prosper spiritually by growing and making progress with the Lord. The blessings of God far outweigh the pleasures of sin.
“Not so the wicked! They are like the chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish” (Psalm 1:4-6).
Yes, we are called to witness to lost people and even build relationships with them, but walking in their counsel means that we are listening to their advice and following the ways of the world. God clearly warns us against that here. We will be faced with opportunities like this. Make up your mind now that you will not walk with and participate in what is unholy.
After all, if we choose not to walk in it, we probably won’t make that “slow fade” into standing and eventually sitting down in that sin. God calls us to righteousness. Delight yourself in the Lord and choose the blessing of a fruitful life planted by streams of grace.