Psalm 1
Blessed is the person who obeys the law of the Lord. They don’t follow the advice of evil people. They don’t make a habit of doing what sinners do. They don’t join those who make fun of the Lord and his law. Instead, the law of the Lord gives them joy. They think about his law day and night. That kind of person is like a tree that is planted near a stream of water. It always bears its fruit at the right time. Its leaves don’t dry up. Everything godly people do turns out well. Sinful people are not like that at all.They are like straw that the wind blows away. When the Lord judges them, their life will come to an end. Sinners won’t have any place among those who are godly. The Lord watches over the lives of godly people. But the lives of sinful people will lead to their death. Psalm 1 (NIV)
There’s a sports radio show that I listen to where one of the hosts has a question and response session called “This or That“. He has fellow hosts and guests answer these two-choice questions and then they discuss their responses.
Each of us makes choices or decisions every moment of every day. Most of them are mundane and routine. Soup or salad? Watch TV or read? Back of my sleeve or get a tissue? We quickly and efficiently make simple decisions that make life happen from moment to moment. These decisions likely have only in the moment consequences that affect no one but you.
But sometimes our choices have far reaching consequences and may be profoundly life altering. Get married or stay single? Stay where I am at or take the new job? Drive drunk or call an Uber? Tell a hard truth or keep it to myself? We use life experiences and the examples or counsel of others to help us shape our decisions and hopefully achieve the desired or appropriate outcome of our decision. These decisions can be quick and in the moment but they can be developed over time after ruminating and mulling until clarity or necessity mandates a choice.
In our verse today, the Psalmist is essentially giving us a “this or that” scenario of how we choose to live our lives. The first way is to follow God‘s laws and Jesus’ example of life or, choose the way of the sinful and godless. The Psalmist even goes on to describe the ultimate consequence of our choice. Death instead of eternal life. The choice seems simple doesn’t it? But for those that don’t know Christ they tend to make choices as if this life is all we have. The end is final. As Christians we know that the end is just the beginning.
We need to try to choose God’s way in all things and at all times but dang it can be hard sometimes. Thankfully we are saved by God’s grace through Christ’s death and resurrection. So when we do choose “that” instead of “this” we are saved from the actions of the sins. God knows that we will make mistakes. That we will fall short of His glory. But gratefully we are reminded in John 3:16, For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. The choice is simple.
Questions for Reflection:
- What big decision is pending in your world? Are you asking God for peace and clarity?
Prayer:
God and Gracious God, Thank you for the gift of free will. Instill in us your Holy Spirit to help guide our decisions so they are faithful and pleasing to you. Help us to use counsel and wisdom to inform our decisions. And when we choose wrongly, help us to know that we are forgiven with our belief in Jesus. Amen.
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