Planted by the Word

Psalm 1:1–3, “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. 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.”

Psalm 1 shows us two different ways to live. One life is shaped by the counsel of the world. The other is rooted in the Word of God.

Notice the progression in verse one: walking, standing, and finally sitting. Sin rarely asks us to go all the way at once. It draws us little by little until we become comfortable where we should never have settled.

But the blessed man chooses a different influence. He delights in the law of the LORD and meditates upon it day and night. God’s Word is not an occasional visitor in his life. It is where his roots are planted.

A tree planted beside the river will still face heat, wind, and changing seasons. Yet it continues to live and bear fruit because its roots reach a dependable source.

The same is true for us. Difficult seasons will come. Feelings will change. The voices around us will compete for our attention. But the Christian who remains rooted in Scripture has a source that never runs dry.

What feeds us will shape us. Where our roots are planted will determine what kind of fruit our lives produce.

Act Today: Consider which voices have been influencing your thoughts and decisions. Set aside one of those voices today and spend that time reading and meditating upon God’s Word.