Tuesday, June 14, 2011

June 15, 2011

"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.  Psalm 1:1-2

I found this article that describes well the spiritual progression expressed in verse one: walk, stand, and sit.

"From birth there are distinct phases that mark the normal development of a human being in terms of their ability to move. At first we are completely helpless and need to be carried and supported as our bones, spine and muscles strengthen. Soon we learn to hold up our heads and push ourselves up, eventually to a sitting position. After this we build up the courage to pull ourselves up to stand and in short succession we, with faltering steps, learn to walk and then run.

Perhaps it is a coincidence that the order in Psalm 1 is opposite to that of positive, healthy development of a human in the physical world. Perhaps it isn't.

In the physical, so in the spiritual.

In Luke 10:39 we read that Martha ‘…had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said….’.

Sitting is not a bad thing, if we are sitting at the feet of Jesus.

In Ephesians 6 the church in Ephesus is encouraged by Paul to, ‘… put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes...’ (Eph 6:11)

Standing is good, if we are standing girded with the full armor of God.

Earlier in Galatians Paul wrote “…This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh….” (Gal 5:16)

and in Ephesians:

“… As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received…” (Eph 4:1).

(It is a commonly known fact that here, and elsewhere in Ephesians, the verb ‘live’ is actually the Greek verb normally translated ‘walk’ as reflected in the King James Version).

“…I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called…” (Eph 4:1)

“…And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour...” (Eph 5:2)

“…For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light…”(Eph 5:8)

So let me ask you what is your spiritual posture or condition today?

Are you sitting at the feet of Jesus or in the seat of scoffers?

Are you standing in the full armor of God or in the way of sinners?

Are you walking in the Spirit or are you walking in the council of the wicked?"


My prayer is that your delight “…is in the law of the LORD…”, that you will be “… like a tree planted by the streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither….”


That whatever you do prospers. (Psa 1:2-3)