“Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” Psalm 1:5-6
Those who remain impenitent and continue in their sinful and rebellious ways will not stand in God’s judgment or be counted members of Christ’s Church. Instead, they will be condemned to the eternal fires of hell. But the LORD knows the way of those who are sorry for their sins and trust in Christ Jesus. He will give them eternal life in His presence.
Grant that I acknowledge and repent of my sins, O LORD, and look to Christ Jesus and His cross for mercy and forgiveness that I may stand uncondemned in Your presence. Amen.
“He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.” Psalm 1:3-4
Those who delight themselves in the truths of God’s Word are like trees growing along streams of water. Even in drought, their leaves do not wither, and they continue to bear fruit. The ungodly — those who do not hear and heed the teaching of God’s Word — are like chaff which the wind blows away. They are not gathered into God’s kingdom but are cast out and burned in the fires of hell.
Teach me Your life-giving Word, O God, and strengthen and preserve my faith in You and Your promises of life and salvation in Christ Jesus, the Son. Amen.
“And Zacharias said to the angel, ‘How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.’” Luke 1:18
Even though an angel appeared to Zacharias to announce the birth of a son who would call God’s people back to repentance and faith in the coming Messiah and Savior, Zacharias questioned the truthfulness of God’s words. God’s promise was beyond possibility in his eyes. How quick we, too, are to discount God’s promises as impossible and doubt them!
Grant that I consider the source of the Bible’s promises, O Lord, and trust that what You have promised me in Christ Jesus You are also able to do. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2
The people of this world — including those considered wise and successful — offer much counsel and advice, but true blessing comes from delighting in the Word of God and meditating day and night on what God reveals and teaches in the Bible. Rather than walking in the ways of this world, God would have us hear and heed what He teaches us in His Word.
Grant that I hear and learn Your Word, O God, that I may be blessed through faith in my Savior. Amen.
“He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:17
As prophesied some 400 years earlier by Malachi, John the Baptist would go before the LORD “in the spirit and power of Elijah” to turn God’s people back from their idolatrous ways to the true God, from living in sin and disobedience to God’s commandments to living by faith in God’s Word. Today, followers of Christ Jesus carry on the work of John the Baptist by calling upon all people to repent of their sinful and evil ways, looking to Christ Jesus and His cross for pardon and forgiveness, and seeking to walk in the ways of the LORD.
Forgive my sins for Jesus’ sake, O God, and move me to walk according to the truth of Your Word. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
