Good conditions for growing a tree
Psalm 1: 1,2
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,
but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
A tree cannot walk, or sit, or choose where it stands. It has no choice but to grow where it was planted. I wonder if sometimes we fall into thinking like a tree.....I'll just stand here and wait for God to get to work?
Psalm 1 shows us that this type of thinking is misleading. It is certainly true that God loves us without us having to do anything- there is no way we can earn our salvation. Grace is all about God's initiative. But God saves us for a purpose- He has a plan for us, He wants us to begin to grow and bear fruit. And He asks us to be partners in that process of growth. We will have choices to make, and those choices will have consequences. If we choose to walk in step with the wicked, our growth will be stunted. If we choose to sit with those who mock anything good and true, we should not be surprised if our leaves begin to wither.
Sometimes its hard to see clearly and judge for ourselves where our choices are doing us more harm than good, so the Psalmist offers us some advice- meditate on God's word. Make time to read it every day, and spend time thinking about what you read. Ensure that you are exposed regularly to Truth- imagine it as turning your face up towards the sun, feeling the warmth and the light.
If you are not sure where to begin, then why not start right here with Psalm 1, and try reading a psalm each day?
But what if the light shows up some things you would rather forget, some choices you are ashamed of, some decisions you regret?
Tomorrow we will read about David, who knew what it felt like to fail.....
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,
but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
A tree cannot walk, or sit, or choose where it stands. It has no choice but to grow where it was planted. I wonder if sometimes we fall into thinking like a tree.....I'll just stand here and wait for God to get to work?
Psalm 1 shows us that this type of thinking is misleading. It is certainly true that God loves us without us having to do anything- there is no way we can earn our salvation. Grace is all about God's initiative. But God saves us for a purpose- He has a plan for us, He wants us to begin to grow and bear fruit. And He asks us to be partners in that process of growth. We will have choices to make, and those choices will have consequences. If we choose to walk in step with the wicked, our growth will be stunted. If we choose to sit with those who mock anything good and true, we should not be surprised if our leaves begin to wither.
Sometimes its hard to see clearly and judge for ourselves where our choices are doing us more harm than good, so the Psalmist offers us some advice- meditate on God's word. Make time to read it every day, and spend time thinking about what you read. Ensure that you are exposed regularly to Truth- imagine it as turning your face up towards the sun, feeling the warmth and the light.
If you are not sure where to begin, then why not start right here with Psalm 1, and try reading a psalm each day?
But what if the light shows up some things you would rather forget, some choices you are ashamed of, some decisions you regret?
Tomorrow we will read about David, who knew what it felt like to fail.....
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