Psalm 1:1-2: “Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.”
I have been spending a great deal of time examining the influences in my life and my family’s life. What music do we listen to? What kind of movies are we watching? What books are we reading? Who are we allowing to speak into our lives? What is influencing our speech, actions, thoughts, and emotions? I’m not doing this to establish a list of no-no’s and no-go’s. Instead, I’m following the Psalmist’s advice to pursue joy and happiness by following God and not the wicked, sinners, or mockers. There is a depth in these verses that goes beyond the “garbage in-garbage out” and “you are who you hang out with” mantras. In verse one, we see the increasing grip of sin as the unrighteous man first walks (follows), stands around, and then sits (join in) with evil. Perhaps that’s why the Bible consistently encourages the follower of Jesus to RUN from sin. In verse two, we see the importance of being influenced by the Word of God. The Bible is to have our complete affection and attention. We delight in the Word, and we meditate on it. I have noticed a significant difference in my day when I read the Bible first thing and when I don’t. I hope and pray that the Bible is the most important influence in my life and my family’s life.
#MinuteWithMaxon #MWM #Psalm1 #Influence
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
Scott Maxon 