Verse of the Day - weekend 10/1

Psalm 1:1-2 (NKJV) Blessed is the man
         Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, 
         Nor stands in the path of sinners, 
         Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
 ² But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
         And in His law he meditates day and night.

 

This week we've considered how important it was for Jesus to spend time alone with the Father which should indicate how important it should be for us.

My devotional reading this morning brought me to Psalm 1 which was also the subject of today's "Today in the Word" devotional from Moody Bible Institute.  The passage, verses and devotional put a cap on some of the things going on mind this week.

 

Thoughts of "the God of Jacob" brought me to Genesis 28, angels descending, the "stairway to heaven".  I listened to the Led Zeppelin song "Stairway to Heaven" and considered the words "yes there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run, there's still time to change the road you're on".

Psalm 1 reveals to us the divergent paths.  The path, the way of the world leads to emptiness and strife.  God's path ultimately leads to peace- "shalom", and rest.

 

In the application segment, today's "Today in the Word" reads, "Who doesn't want to be like a tree planted by streams of water, experiencing flourishing, fruitfulness, and God's shalom? Psalm 1 describes how to pursue this way of life: delight and meditate on God's Word. Five primary ways to engage God's Word are Hearing, Reading, Studying, Memorizing, and Meditating. In which of these could you grow as a lover and student of God's Word? Purpose this month to choose the blessed path and focus on at least one of these five areas.

 

In preparation for worship this weekend, consider the words from Robert Frost's poem "The Road Less Taken" -  "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I / I took the one less traveled by / And that has made all the difference."

 

Few today take the time to delight in, meditate, study and apply God's Word in their lives, it is the road less taken.  But for those who take this path it will make "all the difference".  There's still time to change the road you're on.

 

To see today's "Today in the Word" devotional, go to  www.todayintheword.org

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Psalm 1  NKJV The Way of the Righteous and the End of the Ungodly

 ¹ Blessed is the man
         Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, 
         Nor stands in the path of sinners, 
         Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
 ² But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
         And in His law he meditates day and night.
 ³ He shall be like a tree
         Planted by the rivers of water, 
         That brings forth its fruit in its season, 
         Whose leaf also shall not wither; 
         And whatever he does shall prosper. 
         
 ⁴ The ungodly are not so,
         But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
 ⁵ Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
         Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 
         
 ⁶ For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
         But the way of the ungodly shall perish.