Psalm 1 speaks of there being two paths men are on. The one is the man who walks in the counsel of the wicked, stands in the way of sinners and sits in the seat of scoffers. The other is the man who delights in the law of the Lord and he meditates day and night on it. The psalmist then goes on to explain the results of following each and reveals what their end is.
First, we need to note that there is no middle ground. There is not good counsel available from the wicked, or sinners, or scoffers that does not first find itself in the Word of God. In other words any counsel that does not agree with God’s Word is not to be followed.
Which path are you on? Whose counsel do you follow? If you have been a follower of Christ for very long, then I think you would agree that it is all too easy to follow the counsel of the wicked. In fact it is our “default” position. If you are not diligent to spend time in the Word daily, it does not take long before you are beginning to adopt thinking and living based off of counsel from the world rather than the Word of God. The change does not drastically, but rather happens slowly as you begin to slide down a slippery slope. Your focus and goals change. Happiness becomes more important than holiness. Your kingdom becomes more important than God’s kingdom. Your thoughts seem higher than God’s thoughts. It is not until you get back into God’s Word that you realize how far you have strayed in your thinking and your lifestyle.
Brothers and sisters in the Lord we must heed the warnings of this Psalm. Pastors we also must heed the warnings of this Psalm. Do we make much of the Word of God? Do we delight in the Words of God? Churches who have lost their way, are churches that have turned their back on the Word and have adopted the counsel of the wicked. The results are clear! They will be like chaff that the wind drives away and they will not stand in the judgment. (Psalm 1:4,5)
Be careful to be daily in the Word! Take care to make sure that it happens in your home and in your church. Have someone who holds you accountable. Keep your Pastors accountable to preach from the Word each week. We need to hear, “thus saith the Lord” weekly! If we do we are told that we be 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. (Psalm 1:3)
I close by quoting from Isaiah "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Is.55:10,11)
If you have been encouraged to get in the Word daily and would like help developing a reading plan then please let me know. I would love to help you out!