Psalm 1

1Blessed 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,

2but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,

and who meditates on his law day and night.

3That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither—

whatever they do prospers.

4Not so the wicked!

They are like chaff

that the wind blows away.

5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Thoughts: For 2024 I will do a brief commentary on the Psalms from a missions standpoint.  I am unworthy to do this in many ways- I am not a missionary in the sense of someone who lives in another culture.  But I have visited many cultures.  Yet. I believe God can give us a heart for others right where we are.  This is not an effort at "Christian imperialism."  Yet God so loved "the world" and wants everyone to know His love.  I believe that we are better people if we know the love of God revealed through Jesus Christ.  

Psalm 1- 
"Blessed"- First there is a God who blesses us, and who cares about what we believe and what we do.  Our actions are vastly affected by what we believe.  The word "blessed" could literally mean "righteous" or "straight."  It does not mean self-righteous- but finding a righteousness and blessing in God.  The idea of "straight" means to not be crooked or deceitful.   Some say this idea of blessing is what Jesus used in His famous "Sermon on the Mount."  
     The point of this Psalm is that there are two ways- two roads (think Robert Frost's "the road not taken").   We can choose how we want to live- crookedly or straight, righteous or unrighteous, blessed or unblessed.  
      We can delight in the ways of God- and thus want to read the Bible which is the message of this way.  The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the Word of God endures forever (Isa. 40:8).  Jesus said not a jot or tittle will disappear from His word.  When we read the Bible, we tie ourselves to the eternal way.  We may not fully keep it, but the Word inspires us by the Spirit to want to keep it, and to at the least know a different way.  
     For those who are concerned about the souls of others, we want others to know there is a way to be blessed in this life.  It is a way that leaves a legacy- a life that lasts.  There are so many without hope.  They see the second paragraph- and feel their lives are chaff, weeds, useless, meaningless.  But they don't see the first paragraph that is possible to be happy, blessed, with an eternal purpose.  So part of the job or calling of a Christian is to tell the world they can be blessed.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to be a blessing for you and to you.  As this day starts, I pray that you will use me to be a blessing to others.