Today’s Scripture: Psalm 1
Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
4 But not the wicked!
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
Sinners will have no place among the godly.
6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.
Today’s Devotional
I have found myself on a kick recently of watching tornado videos on YouTube. I have no idea why. Maybe seeing something so violent and destructive makes my life seem calm by comparison! One thing I’ve noticed in watching these videos is how easily things get scattered by the wind. Items you thought were solid and grounded suddenly get tossed and thrown as if they were leaves.
I find myself thinking of those scenes when I read verse 4 about what happens to the wicked. Instead of being rooted next to a riverbank like the righteous – the ones who meditate on the law of the Lord – they are thrown and battered and will ultimately condemn themselves.
What’s interesting in reading this Psalm is that it seems the choice is ours. We can either be like the trees planted along the riverbank, or we can be like the debris of a tornado. Of course none of us would consciously choose to be flying debris! Instead, we make the choice by how we live our lives – including the small, ordinary, ways we go through our day.
Are we connecting with our true selves and the path God has for us? Or are we all about ourselves and doing things that benefit only us?
Today’s Prayer
God forgive us for times we do not live as you would have us live. Forgive us for thinking only of ourselves and for not taking you and others into consideration. We pray that you will help us to be grounded in your Word so that when the winds come we will remain grounded in your Word.
Amen
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