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Choosing the. p ath less traveled. Psalm 1:1-3 gives us guidance. v1. How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers. Jesus walked, stood & sat with sinners, so what is the Psalmist telling us ?.
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Choosing the path less traveled
Psalm 1:1-3 gives us guidance • v1. How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers. • Jesus walked, stood & sat with sinners, so what is the Psalmist telling us?
The real meaning… • Walk: Hb “to go the way of” those who don’t know God • Stand: Hb “in the midst of” A position of NOT moving. Not stepping away from unrighteousness/ungodliness • Sit: Hb: “to hold authority” A position of authority that mocks God/His truth/His ways/His character
How should we walk? • Gal 5:16 “Walk by the Spirit & you won’t carry out the desires (appetites)of your flesh.” • Eph 4:1 “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling…” • Eph 5:2 “Walk in love of Christ just as Christ also loved…” • Eph 5:8 “…for you were formerly of darkness…walk as children of light”
How should we stand & sit? • Rom 5:2 “stand in the grace provided…” • 1 Cor 16:13 “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith” • Eph 6:14 “Stand firm therefore having girded your loins with truth…” • Lk 9:1 “…and (He) gave them power & authority…to proclaim the kingdom of God…”
Be selective about influences • Prov 13:20 “He who walks w/wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” • 1 Cor 15:33 “Bad company corrupts good character” • Prov 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart for it affects everything you do”
Be connected to the Source • V2: “But his delight is in the law of the Lord & in His law he meditates day & night.” • Our life as a godly & blessed person is derived from & sustained by the inexhaustible wisdom in the Word of God. • All attitudes and actions are borne from what we believe. • Garbage in – garbage out.
Rooted = Godliness • V3a “And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water…” • Roots provide stability, maturity & growth • When the storms of life come, will you have deep roots being fed by the Living Water?
Intentional Destiny • V3b “…which yields it fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.” • The leaf of the plant is critical to its growth and maturity.
The challenge… • When you come to a fork in the road, do you know which path is going to take you where God wants you to go?
The encouragement… • Jn 8:12 “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.” • 3 Jn 4 “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.”