24/7 Streamside ~ Psalm 1

Understanding how verses 1-4 apply to me personally makes all the difference when I get to verse 5 … “Therefore…”  It’s like God hits the turn signal, it’s flashes a warning, and we turn in to the conclusion of Psalm 1.

If we grow beside living water, we bear fruit. God uproots us and tranplants us to life, but we have to reject wickedness and, instead, embrace truth constantly.

The wicked lead lives apart from God and produce nothing lasting. “Therefore,” the righteous are approved of by God; the wicked don’t stand firm in the judgment. It’s a turning point with an eternal difference.

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Fast forward to the 21st century … How do I avoid walking/sitting/standing with the “wrong crowd?” God isn’t talking about avoiding the world.  Jesus said He doesn’t want us to be taken out of the world (John 17:14-16); He wants us to be salt and light IN the world (Matt. 5:13-14).  “Walking … sitting … standing” are active verbs revealing a decision to stay with people who reject God. Instead of accepting the companionship and counsel of wicked men (who haven’t turned to God), someone who seeks to be blessed won’t continue with and listen to/heed the wicked.  In our modern world this may mean:

• not exchanging the truth of God for opinions found in books, blogs, tv, etc
• not going to someone who doesn’t follow God for counsel, advice, or partnership
• not spending regular time with someone who makes fun of, argues against, or shames God and His truth
• not putting ourselves in a place to be influenced by someone who doesn’t delight in God’s Word

How do I meditate 24/7? Maybe this was realistic for someone herding sheep all day, but be come on?!?   Meditating really means searching for insight, continuing to try to know, staying with truth, and always returning to truths of God’s Word. (Kathy gave thoughts on meditation here.) This may look like:

• reciting Psalm 101:3 each time I turn on the tv or computer – “I will set no worthless thing before my eyes … “
• remembering the words of Psalm 4:8  when I return to a dark house at night and fight fears – “In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
  For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety.”   If I’m alone & feeling insecure, I may keep muttering this truth over and over until the Lord covers me in peace and brings me sleep.
• reminding myself that “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God,” (Psalm 20:7) when I’m at a family gathering or school meeting or lunch with co-workers, and they’re laughing at people who need the “crutch” of believing in Jesus.

How do I stay by the stream? We live in arid times when men would rather wither than trust God and bear fruit for others. Strangely, it’s never been easier to access God’s Word! We have it in so many forms at the touch of a button or stroke of a finger, but we’re more distracted than ever. Enjoy drinking from God’s Word!

• Invest money and time and thoughts to dig in and discover God’s truth and application to YOU in the 21st century.
• Think about it throughout your day, in all events of life.
• Memorize it, hiding it in your heart. (Psalm 119:9-10)
• Talk about it with others who love God, and worship with others who follow Him.
• Be a committed part of a church family that’s bearing fruit.

Sweet Scripture Dig friend, there’s no need to wither.     We’re meant to be living on God’s Word and bearing fruit!

Psalm 1 gives us a glimpse of treasures in the song book of God’s people. If you’d like to spend more time in select chapters over the next few weeks, join me at Come Have a Peace as we pass through this gateway chapter and look into the garden of the Book of Psalms.

What helps you most to stay close to the stream of living water?