Dwelling in Psalm 1

I have been obsessed with the Psalms lately. Every time I pick up my bible, that is the first thing that I go to. Recently I have been meditating on Psalm 1.

Psalm 1

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. 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. Not so the wicked! They are like 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.

There are three huge principles that are in here and they are defining for every believer. They define Gods progressive growth in all of his people in the most accurate way. Then again, why would that surprise me; it is God who wrote the book.

Point 1: Influence

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.

Who is influencing you? Is it your husband, wife, friends, or Jesus? You and I do not have an excuse to blame our spiritual state on our church, our friends, our spouse, our schedule, or anyone else except ourselves. Who is influencing you? Who do you need to intentionally pursue in order to connect with Christ and grow in your faith? If your not happy with your relationship with Christ; grow up and do the hard work. Your not a baby who drinks milk; you should be eating meat by now.

Point 2: The Word.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 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.

You will never spiritually grow in your walk with Christ without scripture. Over and Over again, the bible speaks of itself as the one and only way to knowing God in his fullest state. We have got to read the bible in order to know God. And...it is not enough to read it. STUDY IT!! Learn about what God is trying to say in his word. MEMORIZE IT!! How are you supposed to meditate on the word of God when you don't have any of it memorized? How are you supposed to fight sin and Satan without the word embedded in your brain? It takes work; I know. PRAY IT! The bible says to pray according to Gods will. How are you supposed to pray according to Gods will aside from his word? Its impossible.

Point 3: Righteousness by faith alone.

Not so the wicked! They are like 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.

If you are still working to be Good than you will never be righteous. On your best day God says you are nothing but filthy rags. However, through faith in Christ and what was accomplished on the cross; you can be made righteous and holy. This is good and bad news. Bad because there is nothing that you can do about your spiritual state. Good because you never again have to get down on yourself for not trying hard enough. The goal is not to try harder; instead the goal is to look closer....closer to Christ. Look to him and believe.

Time will tell if your belief is real. Are you growing? Are you convicted of sin? Do you love Christ deeply? Is he beautiful to you?