August 17, 2011
The Bible reminds us in many places that there is a way that God has designed for us that leads to true joy. The path that God sets out is not focused on our happiness in the moment. His path is a path leading to true joy and true blessing. A number of my elders and church members have encouraged me to begin to write a blog. According to some research statistic that came across the desktop, there are something in the neighborhood of 156,000,000 blogs in existence right now. With the dearth of information that is out there how it is possible that another one is needed? Who would want to read it anyway? Well, we will find out shortly I am sure.
There is one thing that we should always want to read. There is one message that we should always bear in mind as we sort through the clutter, the trite and mundane of this world. That one message is spoken about in the first Psalm. It is a message of blessing and hope. Very simply, there is a way of blessing, or happiness. This way is the way of true blessing that fulfills. This way is the way of genuine happiness. It is the way that will stand firm in the face the contrary winds of life. It is the way that will last for eternity.
The Psalmist reminds us that the way of happiness or blessing is found in walking with the Lord. This lasting true blessing or happiness comes by delighting in the Word that God has spoken. The one who delights in God’s Word is the one who fills his mind with the Word. The Word runs back and forth in the mind saturating our thinking with the glory of God and the wonder of His character. The Psalmist tells us that the one who saturates his mind with the Word of God will be like a tree planted by the water that grows tall, bearing fruit in its season. This is a beautiful picture.
When I was a boy, my family visited a distant relative who lived near a famous American revolutionary war battlefield. They said that they used to be able to look out from their breakfast nook and see the famous location across the valley. However, a willow tree had taken root on the edge of a stream at the back of their property. That willow tree had sunk its roots deeply into the stream bank and drank every day from the fresh water flowing by. The result was that the tree had grown so large, that it dominated the view of all that could be seen from that breakfast nook in our relative’s home. The Psalmist paints a similar picture in verse 3 of Psalm 1. The godly person is described as one who is planted securely, bearing fruit and prospering in all he does. The godly person drinks deeply from the wellspring of life, much like the willow tree that daily drank from the fresh water in the stream.
One might deduce from this picture that if we want prosperity or happiness all we have to do is make a formulaic calculation that if we have so much of God’s Word running through our minds, then happiness is inevitable. Our lives will become prosperous and we can achieve whatever we please. However, that conclusion would miss the message of grace found in the gospel.
A better way to see this would be to say that God has tremendous promises for you here. God provides blessing for the one who walks in His way. There is fruit that is born that is of lasting value. There is the promise of a prosperity that God provides. This is distinct from the prosperity the economic pundits are always talking about. This is real, lasting spiritual prosperity. The final and most encouraging promise is that God knows the way of the righteous and that way shall stand! The truly blessed man of course is none other than Jesus Christ. Through Him alone, we find that true blessing and true happiness.
There are now, I suppose, at least 156,000,001 blogs. On this blog site, you will find hope, encouragement and direction to Jesus Christ, the truly blest man. Please join me in delighting in God’s Word and planting ourselves in His Word. One final note of encouragement: If your life looks like an empty valley with dim memories of past heroics.
Why don’t you come with us and be rooted deeply in God’s Word. No, I don’t want you to turn into an overgrown willow tree. However, you will find great joy and delight when Christ’s presence becomes so large in you, that just as the willow tree dominated the view from our relative’s window, the Lord of all penetrates and fills all of your life to His honor and glory. Read again with me, Psalm 1.
May the Lord richly bless you,
Pastor Jim
PS Here is a practical life suggestion. Count how much time you aimlessly wander the internet and take some of that time in a quiet place to drink purposefully and deeply from the wellspring that is God’s Word.
