For your consideration. By Pastor F. M. Riley July 29, 2019 "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful, Psalm 1:1 The Two Categories I recently wrote and posted a Bible study on Psalm One. As I meditated on this Psalm, a truth became glaringly obvious to me. In the six Scriptures in this Psalm, all of mankind is divided into only two categories. There are no other distinctions made in this entire Psalm. These two divisions are the "righteous" and the "ungodly." The Righteous True believers are referred to five times in this Psalm; [1]"blessed is the man;" [2]"his delight is in the law of the Lord;" [3]"he shall be like a tree;" [4]"His leaf also shall not wither;" [5]"the way of the righteous." "5" is the number in the Bible which signifies "Grace." In other words, the "righteous" are those who, at some point in their lives, made a choice to believe God's Word, to look to and receive His salvation from sin, to love and live for Him, and thereby became the recipients of His GRACE, Ephesians 2:8-10. The Ungodly This term is used four times in this Psalm in reference to unbelievers; 1:1; 1:4; 1:5; 1:6. The "ungodly" are those who, at some point in their lives, made a choice to refuse to believe God's Word, to reject God's way of salvation, to be totally indifferent to God, or to outright despise God, and "the way" of God. Rather, their choice was to live for their own flesh, the world, and consciously or unconsciously for the Devil. Which Division? These are the two basic divisions of mankind set forth in this Psalm. There are no others. Therefore every human being who has ever lived, and every person living today; every reader of this study, is in one of these two divisions of mankind right now. This is true regardless of one's "profession," religion, denomination, or church. God is not looking at any of those things as He looks upon each individual. Rather, God looks at the heart, Acts 1:24; Romans 8:27. God knows who has truly believed on Christ Jesus as their Savior, and who is just hiding behind a false "profession," or no "profession" at all. The Three "D's" What in the world do I mean? I mean your division determines your destination. For all eternity! Will it be with the Lord and His people in glory? Or will it be with Satan and the "ungodly" in Hell? This Psalm plainly states that ".....the Lord knoweth [acknowledges] the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish." What is the reader's eternal destination? Your faith in Christ Jesus, or your lack of it, during this present life, will determine your eternal destination. What choice have you made, or will make? Will you choose to let the Lord Jesus be your Savior, and the Lord of your life? Or will your choice be to live for yourself, the world, and the Devil? The division you have chosen to live in during this present life, will determine your final destination. Make certain that you have chosen wisely and carefully, 2 Peter 1:10-11.
Well, I considered it and came to the conclusion that I will not consider it any more. Think I'll head down to River Plate and hang out with Angus and the boys; they have quite the congregation.
Thank you Garry. Nothing wrong with a little reminder to try each and every day, to be a better person. HB
