Good morning,

The psalmists repeatedly remind us that God's mercy endures forever. However, there is a prerequisite for receiving His great mercy: it is reserved for those who delight in the Law of the Lord and seek to avoid the path of the wicked.

Psalm 1 vividly describes two moral paths we can take. Psalm 1:1 states:

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers."

This verse outlines three stages of worldly morality. The first stage is "walking in the counsel of the wicked," which means prioritizing their perspectives over God's. The second stage is "standing in the way of sinners," suggesting behavior that mirrors that of the world. The third stage is "sitting in the seat of scoffers," which signifies adopting their immoral attitudes and standards.

These days, all we need to do is look at some of television's so-called "comedy shows." The innuendos in these shows clearly contradict biblical morality. Parents, take warning! Believers, guard your hearts! We must reach a point where our walk with the Lord is more important than our entertainment.

So, what are we to do?

Psalm 1:2 encourages us to meditate on the Word. I learned early on in my journey, thanks to my future father-in-law, who mentored a group of us military members, that "Garbage in, garbage out!" If we truly desire to grow and prosper spiritually, we must guard our thoughts, reject the counsel of the wicked, and ingest more and more of the Word of God in our lives.

Here’s to your spiritual growth!

Gene