Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
What a selling job the devil has done to many Christians by convincing them of the dullness of God's Word! It is anything BUT! Still, when New Years rolls around, many a believer--nominal or serious--will re-evaluate their past year (good idea) realize how sparse has been their dedication to the reading of God's Word, and then resolve to change.
If you are one of those (and who isn't at some point in their lives?) then ponder just a moment the following. The Psalms open with (of course) Psalm 1. This Psalm encapsulates the entire Psalter, summarizing in just 6 verses that to which all the rest address themselves. Deny Satan's deceptions and embrace the tenor of the Psalm's call to the truly godly. You want to be godly right? Well, then, look at these inducements:
1. The godly DELIGHTS in God's law. This is hardly a boring attitude. There isn't a soul alive who when they are said to have delighted in something find it hard to dedicate their hearts to it! If we don't delight in God's Word . . . ever, then it's time for confession and repentance. It should be there.
2. They MEDITATE DAY AND NIGHT in God's law. Obviously not 24/7 is meant but fully involved without hesitation. Such involvement never seems an imposition to the true Christian, but his delight. The BOOK is their default position to which they return when all else goes on the fritz. Scripture becomes the one thing necessary to which they willingly resort not just regularly but whenever they discover "free" time has been granted them.
3. RESULT? They are not shriveled up "fuddy-duddies" (Satan's lie), but are rather likened to verdant trees who are so precisely because they draw life-giving water with regularity. They are not lackeys, but lush with life. Really, what true believer wouldn't love this?!
4. RESULT? All they do prospers. That is prospers NOT from sinful man's point of view but from God's. How do you know which is which? Well, try this somewhat simple test: Ask yourself, "Did Job prosper?" Your answer will reveal in great part HOW you define success, and that reveals your heart. The heart determines "prosperity." Job's success came BEFORE God restored everything to him twice over.
5. Lastly, the godly benefit in that, as verse 6 brings out, the Lord KNOWS THE WAY OF THE RIGHTEOUS. Our Lord is intimately, lovingly, watching over and attending our pathway, every step of the way. Now, that is security and happiness and joy!
Again, who are you going to believe? When God tells us in His Word this is the Christian's case, we do well to believe him!
Happy New Year!
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