Day of Praise

Wed, 05/17/17, 32nd of 50 Days of Easter, "Day of Praise"

"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

When I was a kid, I did some things that, well, were not too smart. 

What about you?

Like when I was in first grade, I got a rush out of leaning back in my classroom chair and falling backwards. All the way to the floor. To this day I have no idea why that seemed fun. I do know, however, that the fun did indeed stop when, with one of the falls, I broke a chair. I remember being sent to the principal's office and getting a different rendition of "you'll shoot your eye out, kid." My teacher, Miss Deakins', and the principal, Miss Carmack's version was, "Don't you know you could crack your skull open, kid?"

"Uh, no, Ma'am, it never occurred to me," was what I thought, I think, but I really don't remember because, well, I don't think I was thinkin' at all. I mean that's why we all do stupid things as kids...and as adults. 

We just don't think. 

That's clearly the point in the contrast of today's Bible verses. 

The only reason that we "walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers" is because that's what we do (walk, stand, even sit) when we don't think. We do stupid, wicked, sinful, mocking, destructive stuff. 

In contrast is the one who thinks...with their heart. The one "whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night." To delight is to think with your heart. To delight is to want to please another, to want to find out how to please another. So day and night thought is given, one meditates day and night on the law and commands and statutes and word of the Lord. 

I know people who admit to going weeks at a time without even once thinking about the Lord or his word or worshiping him. I want to say, "what are you thinking?" But, of course, that's the point: they're not. 

Hey, I'm not condemning anyone; we're all sinners for whom Jesus died. But the one who's not thinkin' about the Lord, who just walks/stands/sits, well, they're missin' out on a lot of good livin'. 

I mean God says in today's verse, "That person [who delights in God's Word and meditates on it day and night] 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." Whatever they do prospers!

I mean think about it this way. Don't people in this country want to prosper? And yet around every turn, people are either tryin' to get rid of God's Word or find every way under the sun to not make time for it. And look at the result. Our country's not prospering. By any earthly measure, not one thing is really getting better. What are people thinkin' that they could possibly have a better life by getting rid of God's Word or by neglecting it? What could they possibly be thinking?

Uuuuuuuuh, they're not.

So, let's all do this. Let's all pick one person who clearly doesn't walk with God, and let's think about 'em. Study 'em. Think about 'em some more. And ask God to help us see how we can feed 'em with and invite 'em to God and to his word and to the worship and praise of Him who made us...with a brain...maybe a simple brain...but a brain nonetheless...so we can think of Him...and delight in Him...and meditate on his word day and night...and prosper. 

Come to think of it. I've got a person in mind right now. What about you? Think about it!

"Blessed is the one... whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night...whatever they do prospers." - Psalm 1:1-3

Praise God!