Filtering All Counsel Through God’s Word
1 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. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 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. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Psalm 1 (KJV}
If you are a Christian you probably believe as I do; that all true blessings come from God. His many blessings are part of His benefits package and it is available to everyone. How are His benefits realized? Psalm one indicates His blessings are conditional and available to those who do not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of the scornful.
The ungodly will turn you from a firm focus on the Father to flashes of pleasure. I am not convinced they purposely turn us from God but that is surely the goal of our enemy, Satan. When our eyes turn away from God and His way we are also turning away from His blessing. Walking in the way of the ungodly is like buying a lottery ticket. We are excited as we pay good money for a quick-pick lottery ticket. But, after a few scratches, the outcome almost always becomes a letdown.
Godly counsel is different. Psalm one says that delight comes when we filter all counsel through God’s Law. His Law or Word is like a stroke of a brush, in the hand of an artist, onto a canvas, being carefully sculptured into a masterpiece.
Irene Love, a good friend of mine, is an accomplished artist. She has often spoken of the pleasure she finds in painting. She often shares her progress with me and we both find delight in how her art gift is coming together in her painting. Finally, when her painting is complete, and the last stroke of the brush is is pulled across the canvas, there is a great delight in looking at the masterpiece.
Ungodly counsel is like receiving a worthless rubbed off lottery ticket, it will not delight. Reading, comprehending, and following the word of God culminates into a masterpiece like a painting. When we filter our actions through the Word of God (the Law) we find delight. Godly counsel leads to a masterpiece. We were created to be masterpieces and this a vital tip to a better life.