“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; 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 that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”
Psalm 1:1-3
God’s encouragement…
In this passage of scripture, God teaches us about the importance of spending time in His word. To begin, He instructs us to not walk, stand, or sit with people whose hearts are hardened against Him. We know them by their rebellion, ridicule, and rejection of God. Instead, we are to delight in His word. When we do, we are like a tree planted by streams of water. This special placement is chosen by God to insure we will be nurtured continually and abundantly. We will yield His fruit in its season. Our leaf will not wither.
I have lived on both sides of the divide this passage speaks to. When I shut God out of my thoughts and listened to the voices He instructs me not to, the ever-changing events of the world produced fear. I focused on what was wrong. I was blind to His blessings that were all around me. In contrast, the years I’ve spent delighting in His word have led me to my Savior. As I listened to Him, read His word, studied it and mediated on it, I experienced God’s holiness, goodness, wisdom, and grace. Through His word, God has been able to reach me, teach me, and change me. Powered by Him, this new self seeks to yield His fruit in the world.
The voices of those with hardened hearts is amplified in this time, but they have always been present. The antidote is as timeless as our God. Listen to Him! Seek His word. Delight in it. Be led by it. Then, when we share our yield with others, serving in the name of Jesus Christ and giving all glory to God, the fruit of our words and actions will honor Him, and His blessings meant for us all, will prosper.
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Image: original color pencil drawing by Robin Lybeck: Planted by God
