WEDNESDAY April 9th
Psalm 1:1
‘Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers . . .’
Where not to walk
Well, it wouldn’t be right for me to end these few thoughts concerning the Christian Walk without reminding us that there are places or ways in which as the children of God we should not be walking.
In coming to Jesus, we have been made into new creations, and alongside that we should have new desires, our hearts should be toward the things of God and not the things of this world. It doesn’t mean that we live as if we have no contact or interaction with the ungodly nor with the world, but that the priority should be that of our putting God first. But there are those things that we should no longer have anything to do with and the psalmist puts it this way, the counsel of the wicked, the way of sinners and the seat of scoffers.
Sadly, many who claim to love Jesus seem to love the world and its transient pleasures more than they love God and the ways of God. If a machine could be constructed that could measure the desires of our heart, I wonder which way the needle would point—to the things of God or towards the pleasure of the world.
There is of course no such machine, but God knows, and he has placed within each one of us that which we call our conscience, and we need to heed the conscience and the conviction of the Holy Spirit so that our desires are toward walking in the ways that give pleasure to God.
The application today is from the word of God:
Proverbs 1:10 & 15
‘My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent . . . my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths.’
Proverbs 4:10-15
‘Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.’
Hebrews 12:1-2
‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.’