Are you among the “blessed” of God? Most people would hope to be so. In fact, most people believe that they are because they experience good things in life. However, not everyone who experiences good things in life is among the blessed of God. Many atheists do well from a physical or material standpoint. The “blessed” of God, at least from a spiritual perspective, are a specific people—people who are found in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).
The Psalmist tells us two things about those blessed by God that always stand true.
- The Blessed Man Is Not Influenced by Sinners.
Psalm 1:1 (ESV)
1 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;
When praying to the Father in John 17, Jesus said that His disciples are not of this world. Such being the case, the sinful ways of the world should not influence us. The “blessed” man does not take advice from the wicked, and he does not follow the ways of those living contrary to the will of God. The “blessed” today are Christians and they are not impressed by worldliness. Paul is a good example of this.
Galatians 6:14 (ESV)
14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Clearly, Paul was not influenced by the world. His state of mind, however, was not accidental. He purposely crucified the world. The world was dead to him. This is the path taken by those who are blessed by God. It is one of the primary reasons they continue to be blessed. One of the major contributors to children of God going back to their old lifestyle is the allurement of this world. The Bible warns us about this.
Romans 12:2 (ESV)
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Those who continue to be in a “blessed” condition, are those who maintain fellowship with God by walking in the light, living in a way that is deemed godly by the God of heaven (1 John 1:7).
There is a second reality about the “blessed” person that the Psalmist considers:
- The Blessed Man Loves the Word of God.
Psalm 1:2 (ESV)
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
The “blessed” man has a different affection than those of the world. Instead of being obsessed with worldly things (property, power, prestige, and popularity), he delights in God’s Word. He lives by the law of the Lord because he knows it. He studies and meditates upon it. This keeps him in a state of blessedness.
Do not miss the importance of the word “delight.” Only the person who truly loves the Word of God is going to consistently study and meditate upon it. This is why Peter exhorts us to have the right attitude toward God’s Word.
1 Peter 2:2 (ESV)
2Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—
The word “long” here means to yearn or earnestly crave for something (Strong). Peter is speaking of an insatiable passion for something. To the “blessed” man this something is the law of the Lord.
As you wind down for the night, think about these things.