Summer in the Psalms

My Pastor has started a series over the summer called Summer in the Psalms. The first sermon was this last week and man, it was great. I was even challenged last night about a 'devotion' each day for our website. I figured I would start this back up again. Nothing fancy, nothing long. So this morning I started with Psalm 1.

Let's check out verse 1 and 2. (I use NIV) Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, ad on his law he meditates day and night. STOP

BLESSED is the man who does NOT walk in the counsel of the wicked. If we skip to 1 Corinthians 15, we see that bad company corrupts good character. Have you ever had a friend who when you hang out with them your whole attitude changes? That's what David is talking about. When you become a new creation Satan gets super mad. He starts throwing curve balls your way. Oh this friend is doing this. Oh that friend is doing that. Don't worry about going to that party because it's no big deal. He's sneaky. He's a jerk. We have to "weed" them out. Meaning, they got to go. We are to meditate on his law day and night. ALL THE TIME. Not just Sunday and Wednesday, or whenever your services are. 

Verse 3. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose lead foes not wither. Whatever he does prospers. STOP

SIDE STORY. I have a fig tree in my yard. I didn't know what it was until it produced fruit and I did some research. We were thrilled because, well, figs are delicious and super expensive. We've been at our house for 4 years or so and it only produced that first year. I don't know how to take care of it, nor do I cover it up so the frost doesn't get to it. For 3 years the thing hasn't produced fruit. I didn't know how to properly care for it so it just withers and dies. 

Like my fig tree, so are we as christians. We are to produce fruit. You might wonder what that is. To the best of my little Jesus knowledge, I see it as this. When I tell someone about Jesus, or they see me being like Jesus - a 'seed' is planted. If it's not continued to be 'nourished' or 'fed,' like going to church or reading the bible, it dies. Or if it were to be fed incorrectly, it would die. If we don't meditate on God's word day and night we don't develop a deeper relationship with him. We don't produce fruit. We want to be able to grow and impact other peoples lives by what we read. This is why we have to surround ourselves with Godly people. If we continue to walk in our sinful ways and not turn, we will suffocate everything and wither. I do not care if you look like the poster child for Christianity. Hidden sin will destroy you. We see it over and over and over.

Verse 4 and 5. Not so the wicked! They are little chaff that the wing blows away. Therefore the wicked will stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. STOP

The wicked are not blessed guys. I know that standing on the inside looking out, I always wondered why my secular friends never seemed to have problems like I did. Why they had the nice car, the nice family, the things of this world that I wanted. Over the years God has shown me that the stuff isn't worth wishing over. I should be desiring things like wisdom, knowledge, overwhelming joy. A nice car is going to eventually break down. A huge tv eventually is going to break. Financial stability isn't going to provide the joy that God gives. They may looked blessed, but all of their things will perish. 

Verse 6. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. STOP

If you've ever had a new pet or baby come into your life, you love watching them. When Joseph was learning to all of the milestones that a toddler experiences, we would stop everything and just watch him. When our dog would learn a new trick we would praise him and give him treats. We would get overwhelmed with joy and excitement. God watches us like a mother watches their newborn child learn things. Or how a trainer watches their animal learn new things. There is pride there. God delights in you when He see's you reach new levels of your faith. The God that created the universe delights in YOU! How awesome is that?!!?!