Psalm 1 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 1 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers;
Verse 2but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night.
Verse 3They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.
Verse 4The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Verse 5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
Verse 6for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Devotion
Location, location, location.
The psalmist reminds us about location. Trees planted by streams of water yield their fruit in season and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper because they have access to nourishment that keeps them alive.
Location matters. Trees can’t chose it, but people can. You and I can choose to live near or far from streams of living water, sources of spiritual nourishment. What are you reading that nourishes? Are you close to people with whom you can converse about your own spiritual issues, who will also confront and challenge you?
By what streams of living water are you planted these days? Location—flourish or wither.
Prayer
Good and gracious God, we wither without you and your people. Help us plant ourselves beside streams of living water that nourish us with hope and vision to love you, your people, and your world. Feed us, O Lord, that we might become nourishment for others. In the name of the One who is the bread of life. Amen