The book of psalms is our songbook of life. The psalms remind us that wherever we are—in celebration or grief, in confidence or confusion, in joy or anger or despair—God is right there with us. I invite you to read and reflect on these songs of life wherever YOU are this week. Read the psalm, and my reflection below; then consider posting and sharing your own observations.These Thirsty Thursday reflections were written between 2018-2021. Today’s devotion was originally posted on August 9, 2018]
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither- whatever they do prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3)
Happy Trees
My wife Heidi and I have done a lot of moving. In our 36 years of marriage we’ve lived in ten homes, seven cities, and four states! We’ve moved our stuff, our children, our pets…and even some of our plants. The plants, in particular, don’t like moving. A rose bush isn’t terribly adventurous to begin with, and to be dug up, loaded on a truck and replanted in different soil produces plenty of negative side-affects!
Maybe we can learn something from those plants. In a world that’s constantly moving, where do I need to be “planted?” The writer of Psalm 1 isn’t simply telling us to stay away from bad people and bad behaviors, he is declaring that there is only one place that we can find the blessing, delight, and life we’re looking for. Not only will we never find it with the “wicked,” the “sinners” and the “mockers;” we also won’t find it in culture or art, in politics or financial success. You won’t even find it in your family, friends or church. Real life is only found in the living Word of God…and that Word is Jesus (John 1:14). If we stay planted there, with him, we’ll eventually see that good “fruit” can emerge in all those other places as well.
Happy and healthy trees are “planted by streams of water.” Where are you planting yourself?
“Come to the waters.” Every Thursday I invite you to seek refreshment from God’s Word as we open up the Bible’s songbook–-the book of Psalms. Hopefully it will keep you planted, and inspire you to spend more time drinking from those waters throughout the week.
Pastor Philip
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