Wednesday 7 October, 2020

Psalm 1 1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

I find that in my life I am surrounded by reminders of immediate needs, desires and circumstances.

• My stomach reminds me that it is almost time to eat
• A commercial reminds me of the latest and greatest ‘thing I should own’
• My mind fixates on a presentation I have at work later today

The list goes on….

The word of God reminds me of realities that are often not front of mind for me, it speaks of the future I may not of considered, and it reminds me of realities that are more real than what often fills my mind.

In Psalm 1, I am reminded that my decisions and actions will bring about more than the immediate outcomes I may be thinking about. They will set me on a trajectory, a path that could head in one of two directions:

• A life of fruitfulness and abundance
• A life that counts for nothing and is simply swept away

It also speaks of a day of judgement we will all arrive at, a time I will have to give account for my life. At that destination those who have walked the first path will stand and inherit more of this righteous life and more on top of that!! Those who have walked the second path will be excluded from that inheritance.

God in heaven above, thank you for bringing your realities straight to my heart by your Word. Form in me a life that habitually meditates on your Word so that I may live by it and experience this abundance of righteousness. Amen.

Written by Andrew Mellor