Understand Psalms 1:4-5 what is it saying to you?
Good day Beloveds,
Happy New Year to you! I hope you are ready to grow in your walk with Jesus. May everything this year be about pleasing our Lord God.
I trust you enjoyed the teaching on verses 1 to 3. If you haven't read these verses yet, please do so before continuing below. Click here to read verse 1-2 and verse 3.
We have already discussed how a righteous person should live. Living in this manner likens them to trees planted by the riverbank. Today, we will explore the opposite of a righteous person: the wicked, sinners, or wrongdoers. We often assume that just because a person appears good, they are godly. Unfortunately, this is not always accurate. A person can be considered good by their own standards or the world's standards, but that does not necessarily align with God's standards.
What is a good person?
A good person may have a heart that does not please God. Let’s examine a scripture that demonstrates this. A rich religious leader approached Jesus, asking how he could inherit eternal life. When Jesus outlined the requirements, the man claimed he had fulfilled all of them according to his own merits and even the laws of Moses. He believed that keeping the commandments was enough to inherit eternal life, but he was mistaken.
Despite his obedience, his heart was deeply attached to his possessions. He wanted eternal life but was unwilling to let go of the temporary things he had built for himself. His possessions had become idols.
Reflection time:
Besides obeying the commandments, what things might prevent you from inheriting eternal life? If you had this conversation with Jesus, would you be ready, or would you struggle to let go of your career, dreams, plans, possessions (regardless of their quantity), children, spouse, parents, or siblings?
Confession:
Heavenly Father, please forgive me for loving _______________ more than You. Help me release this love that would lead me to disobey You. Teach me to care more about eternal life than anything in this temporary world.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank You for revealing my physical attachments to me. Please teach my heart to be content with spiritual things so I can experience the supernatural. Transform me so that I am ready to inherit eternity. Help me offload everything I do not need, so I can carry only what I was born with. In Jesus' name, I ask. Amen.
[19] “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good. [20] But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’” [21] The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” [22] When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” [23] But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich. [24] When Jesus saw this, he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! [25] In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” [26] Those who heard this said, “Then who in the world can be saved?” [27] He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.”
Take note:
Jesus asked him, "Why do you call me good?" He knew the teacher was judging based on visible actions. Do you also label people as good based solely on external works?
Why the camel illustration?
I have always struggled to understand this illustration of the camel, but today, through the power of the Holy Spirit, I received a revelation. Glory be to God for granting me His wisdom. Even though a camel is large and has two humps, those humps are part of its physiology. Wherever it goes, the extra load of its humps comes with it. We can only take what is physically attached to us into the Kingdom of God.
The doors to God's kingdom are as small as the eye of a needle. No one can enter through them unless it is done supernaturally by God. To experience the supernatural, we cannot cling to the natural; that would be an extra load we were not born with. The natural cannot fit through the supernatural gate of God's kingdom, highlighting the importance of our spirits as they have access.
Now that you understand this better, let’s dive into Psalms 1:4-5. The wicked are not like trees planted by the riverbank, so they will not receive the same benefits as righteous and godly people. This may seem unfair, but remember that wrongdoing is a choice; there are no victims. To some degree, we may be unaware, but God's Word still calls it sin, whether we recognize it or not.
[4] But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
Merriam-Webster's definition of "worthless": Lacking worth; useless.
Synonyms: Valueless, no-good, null.
Merriam-Webster's definition of "chaff": the seed coverings and other debris separated from the seed in threshing.
Chaff is the dry seed covering from plants like wheat. It is indigestible by humans, which renders it useless. In biblical times, a threshing floor was used to separate chaff from grain. During the threshing process, the chaff would be blown away by the wind, leaving only the grain on the floor.
Wicked people are likened to chaff in the eyes of God. He cannot use them for much, so He will let them be carried away by the wind. Some may argue that God loves everyone, and that it's unfair to suggest otherwise. However, this perspective comes from a misunderstanding of Scripture. We must not cherry-pick the parts we like and ignore the rest. God loves everyone but doesn't delight in the wicked's ways.
Reflection Time:
Do you struggle to accept certain parts of the Bible because they seem cruel or uncharacteristic of God? This mindset can be dangerous, as it implies that we believe we can dictate how God should be or what He should do with His creation. Ultimately, God is sovereign, and His ways are what matter most.
Confession:
Dear Lord, I apologize for being selective with Your words. I regret choosing only what makes sense to me or what my heart can accept. You are a just God, capable of doing whatever You deem fit with Your creation. I'm sorry for questioning You and insisting on my own ways.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing this sin to me. You are a fair God who gives the righteous their due and the wicked theirs. Please transform my heart to be good, and help me not to expect the rewards of the righteous while pursuing the ways of the wicked. I want to change my paths to align with Yours. Make me like a tree planted by the riverbank and not worthless chaff. I desire to be useful to You. In Jesus' Name, I ask. Amen.
"They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly."
This verse informs us of the fate awaiting the wicked—they will be condemned by God at the time of judgment. This is a harsh reality that many will face. Jesus died to provide every person with a fair chance to choose between being chaff or a tree; the choice is ours.
It’s concerning to see how many believe this time of judgment is far off. Even those who identify as Christians sometimes think they have more time. Tomorrow is never promised. While you may be carried away by the wind in pursuit of enjoyment, be cautious—this path could lead to condemnation. Being rooted like a tree may sound stable, but many people shy away from that commitment.
Merriam-Webster's definition of "condemned":
1. Declared to be reprehensible, wrong, or evil.
2. Pronounced guilty and sentenced to punishment.
We will all face judgment, but not everyone will be condemned. Only those whom God considers worthless chaff will be subjected to condemnation. According to God's standards—not our own or the world's—sinners will not share the same fate as the godly.
Reflection Time:
Do you often think, "I'll start repenting tomorrow" or "I'll do it when I'm older?" Do you plan to confess your sins at a later time? Do you believe that the Lord’s grace will cover you, even if you fall under the category of worthless chaff? Are you deceiving yourself to the point where you disregard this part of Scripture? Do you convince yourself that your sins aren't that serious?
Confession:
Dear God, I am sorry for taking Your word and warnings for granted. You provided the Old Testament to show how the disobedience of the Israelites led to their destruction. Please forgive me and empower me to repent through the Holy Spirit.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for teaching me about condemnation and the reality that, if I continue in my wicked ways, I will have no place among the godly. Please help me to let go go by disobedience so I am not worthless to you. In Jesus' name. Amen
I pray that this teaching helps you change your ways and fosters a genuine desire for full obedience and righteousness according to God. May the Lord guide you through His Holy Spirit. Amen.
More to read by Bonolo M. Nevondo
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