Psalm 1:1 says, "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;"
As believers, we are called to be set apart from the world and its ways. We are called to walk in the ways of the Lord and to live our lives in accordance with His will. When we do this, we are blessed. We experience the peace and joy that comes from being in a right relationship with God.
But what does it mean to "not walk in the counsel of the wicked"? It means that we do not follow the ways of the world. We do not conform to the patterns of this world, but rather we are transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). It means that we choose to live in a way that is pleasing to God, even if it means going against the norm.
We are also called to "stand in the way of sinners" This means that we should not be drawn into sin by the company we keep. We should surround ourselves with people who will encourage us in our walk with the Lord and hold us accountable when we stray. We should not be afraid to distance ourselves from those who would lead us down the wrong path.
Finally, we are called to "not sit in the seat of mockers." This means that we should not participate in or condone the mocking of others. We should be known for our kindness, compassion, and love, even towards those who do not share our beliefs.
Notice the pattern that is at play here: while we start off walking or acting on sin, we eventually slow down and stand and become habitual about sin, and then finally we sit and make our homes in sin. Sin can become so much a part of our lives that we can begin to identify ourselves with sin and even feel at home or comforted by sin.
Scripture tells us that we must be very careful of how we walk, not as unwise, but as wise because the days are evil. As mentioned earlier, one way that we can be wise in the way that we live is to be careful of the company that we keep. Surround yourself with other people who are committed to following Jesus and allow them to encourage your walk with the Lord.
Take a second to think through and meditate on these questions:
In what ways am I conforming to the patterns of this world?
Am I surrounding myself with people who will encourage me in my walk with the Lord?
Have I participated in or condoned the mocking of others? How can I show more kindness, compassion, and love towards others?
Who do I have in my life that is encouraging me to walk more like Jesus?
Click the link for all the music from Student Collective Conference:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1CoejizI1LlheqowpDluuQ?si=a8f73b09638d43b6
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