Psalm 1

Blessed and joyful are we who love and revere the Lord!  Blessed and full of joy are we who obey the Lord and seek to do His will.  Living in a loving and obedient relationship with the Lord is the secret to an abundant and purposeful life.  Joyful and fulfilled are we if we do "not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers."  Psalm 1:1b)

Blessed are we if we do "not walk" or order our lives in the "counsel" or so-called wisdom of the world.  Sometimes the wisdom of the world can sound so logical at first glance.  That's why we need to immerse ourselves in God's Word and in His wisdom alone, and we must not fall for the "wisdom" of the world.  We must not "stand" or station ourselves with those who do not love the Lord.  We must not "sit" or settle ourselves with those who reject the things of the Lord.  This does not mean we shouldn't ever associate with non-believers, because God wants us to be a witness to those who do not know Him.  We, however, must not be caught up with sinful life styles and philosophies.

Blessed and full of joy and purpose are we, if we delight in God's Word.  Blessed are we if we meditate on God's Word.  Meditating on God's Holy Word involves thinking about God's Word with the intention of obeying God's Word.  We must be seeking the guidance of God's Word, so that we can live our lives in a way that is pleasing to Him.  Our study of God's Word must involve more than an intellectual understanding of God's Word.  Our study of God's Word must lead to convictions and wisdom in the things of God.  Our study and meditation of God's Word should lead us to become more like Jesus in our attitudes, thoughts, and actions.

If we are truly seeking the Lord's Holy Word for His wisdom and guidance, our lives will flourish and be successful in God's definition of these things.  Our lives will be spiritually fruitful. Psalm 1:3 says of of the person who delights in and obeys God's Word, "He is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not whither.  Whatever He does prospers."  If our lives are ordered by the Lord; we have joy, peace, stability, and spiritual growth in our lives.  We also experience true Godly success in our lives, because our lives have purpose and meaning in the Lord!

As the Lord's children, we are like trees each uniquely planted where He wants us to be planted. God has a purpose and plan for planting us where He has planted us in this life.  Maybe we would wish to be planted elsewhere than where the Lord planted us, but we must be content and fruitful where God has chosen to plant us.

God provides for us His "trees."  He plants us "by streams of waters."  He provides us the strength and nourishment we need to grow and flourish spiritually in Him.  We must drink from His Word regularly, so that we become all that the Lord wants us to be in His kingdom.  We must be trees that are spiritually fruitful.  Our "leaves" must "not whither," but they must show forth the beauty of our Lord Jesus!

Those who do not know the Lord Jesus are "like chaff that the wind blows away." (Psalm 1:4b) There is no stability or purpose in their lives.  God's children, however, have stability, security, purpose, and peace.  "For the Lord watches over the the way of the righteous." (Psalm 1:6a)  We need not fear what tomorrow will bring.  The Lord has a purpose and plan for our lives today, tomorrow, and next year.  Even if we go through difficult times, the Lord will be with us.  We can trust His perfect leading and will for our lives.  We can and must rest in the Lord's will and promises in His Holy Word.  Praise His name!