Blessed!
Psalm 1:1-6 NASB "How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel
of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of
scoffers! [2] But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law
he meditates day and night. [3] And he will be like a tree firmly planted
by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf
does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. [4] The wicked are
not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. [5] Therefore
the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly
of the righteous. [6] For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But
the way of the wicked will perish."
When I was a young boy, our church required that we memorize this passage
of scripture before we could join the boy's club at the church. It was
our rite of passage. I worked hard to memorize it and I'm glad I did, in
fact, only two things linger in my memory from that club-the memory of
being terrified, sitting around a campfire at an overnight camp out, listening
to other boys tell spooky stories, and this passage of scripture. It has
been a friend of mine since then. There are times, to this day that the
rhythmic verses swim through my mind reminding me of what it really means
to be a blessed man.
I'm reminded, that in many ways, being blessed is a choice-a choice
not to listen to the counsel of the wicked or to be a stumbling block to
others or be a know-it-all on the sidelines of life criticizing others.
Instead, to be blessed, I must delight in God's word and marinate in it
daily. As I meditate on these verses, I'm reminded that blessing is not
so much a status or a destination; rather it is a journey-a lifestyle.
It is a choice to live life under the umbrella of God's blessing-a choice
to follow His ways and seek His kingdom. It is an openness to be used of
God whether that decision makes life easier or harder isn't the issue-being
blessed is.
Of course the alternative isn't pretty. Who wants to be a withering
leaf or dry chaff blown by the wind? The way of the blessed man-the righteous
man is straight and sure. It leads to a desirable destination-a way the
Lord knows and has prepared.
Enjoy the journey!
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that corresponds to this devotional.
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Dr.
James L. Wilson
                
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