“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.” Psalm 1:3-4
The one who reads and meditates in God’s Word and heeds its message is like a tree planted by rivers of water. Even in times of trouble and drought, it continues to grow and prosper and produce fruit. Those who do not hear and heed the Bible’s message are like chaff that the wind blows away at threshing time.
Grant that I hear, read, and meditate in Your Word, O God, and heed its message. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2
True blessing comes to those who read, study, and meditate in God’s Word and heed its message rather than to those who heed the counsel of the world and live according to the ways of the unbelieving.
O God, grant that I read and study Your Word and walk according to it, repenting of my sinful ways and looking in faith to Christ Jesus, my Savior. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Lo-ruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away. … Now when she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son. Then said God, Call his name Lo-ammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.” Hosea 1:6,8-9
Many mistakenly believe that modern-day Israel is God’s chosen people; however, God’s word teaches otherwise. The names God commanded Hosea to give his children testify that those who turn aside from worshipping and serving the true God and looking to Him for mercy in the promised Messiah receive no mercy (“Lo-ruhamah”) and are no longer God’s people (“Lo-ammi”). God also said, “It shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God” (Hosea 6:10). Those who repent of their sinful ways and look in faith to Messiah Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for pardon and forgiveness, whether Jew or Gentile, are God’s elect children (cf. Gal. 3:26-29; 1 Pet. 2:3-10).
Thank You, O God, for having mercy on me and adopting me as Your own dear child through faith in Jesus Christ, my Savior. Open the eyes of those who do not yet trust Jesus the Messiah, that they too might receive of Your mercy and be Your dear children through faith in Jesus’ name. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” Romans 9:8
Do we become children of God by being descendants of Abraham? Or is it by trusting in God’s promise of a Savior to atone for our sins? It is not the children of the flesh who are God’s people, but those with faith in God’s promises. In Galatians 3:26, we read, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
Grant that we not trust in our heritage but in Your promise of a Savior to redeem us, O God. We pray in the name of Jesus, Your Son, and our Savior. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23
How important it is to guard our hearts — to fill them with the Word of God and to keep them from the allurements of this world! If we sow to the flesh, we will reap corruption. If we sow to the Spirit by continuing in His Word, we will reap life everlasting through faith in Christ Jesus!
O gracious and merciful God, grant that I guard my heart and let it be filled with the truth of Your saving Word. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
