24 LIFE F O O T ================================

• H O L D

READING

24 LIFE’S ALTERNATIVES

PRAY Help me, Lord, to find joy in obeying your law.

READ Psalm 1:1-6

THINK In two columns list the characteristics of the unrighteous and righteous people in this Psalm. —————————————————————– FOCUS The Psalms are words for worship – the Old Testament hymn-book. Psalm-hymn No. 1 sets the tone by asking the most important question in life: where are we going? It’s no good singing the right tune if we are living the wrong way. There are only two directions to choose from, and they are total opposites in every feature of the journey. FINDING THE DIRECTION (v 1,2). The truly happy people do not accept the advice of evil associates nor follow their example. Rather they consult God’s law and follow it; scoffers dismiss it and call it out-of-date. NOURISHMENT ALONG THE WAY (v 3). Jeremiah 17:7,8 paints a similar picture to that in verse 3. Even when the seasonal rains failed, the tree beside the river could send down its roots to a constant supply of water. So its leaves remained green and it bore fruit at the appropriate time. Fruitful people draw nourishment from God, whatever their outward circumstances. They are living and growing. By contrast, evil people are seen as dry worthless chaff that is blown away in the wind. WHEN CALAMITY COMES (v 4-6). Notice what the righteous may expect God to do for them (6a). The righteous people end up where their Lord has gone before; but sinners will fail God’s final examination. —————————————————————–

PRAY Ask God to make you a fruitful tree. Meditate on verse 3.