Blessed 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 – Psalm 1:1 (NIV)
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 (KJV)
Theme: Living According to God’s Word
If you’ve ever watched a marching band or a military parade, you’ve seen what it’s like for people to walk in step with each other. The ability to stay in step is a sign of unity — an indication that the individuals who make up the unit share common objectives or values — and that unity of effort enables the group to accomplish things that an individual could not. Unity can be a powerful force…and it can work for good or for evil.
Unfortunately, many in our society today want us to “walk in step” with things that God clearly defines as sin. They try to convince us that sinful behavior is normal or acceptable in our “modern” world. It seems that everywhere we turn — television, the internet, news organizations, politicians, people we work with, our “friends”…even the professors and teachers in our schools — people argue that it’s ok to take God’s name in vain, to use foul language, to lie, to cheat, to be unfaithful, to take things that aren’t ours, to put sports and hobbies ahead of God and church, to redefine what it means to be married, to put our own egos and pride ahead of being kind and serving others (how many times have you heard “nobody does/says that to me!”)…and the list goes on. Even more, these same people try to convince us that we, as Christians, should join the crowd and accept the notion that God’s laws no longer apply like they did in the “old days.”
But God tells us not to be associated with such beliefs…or the people who believe them.
In Psalm 1:1 God encourages us not to walk, stand, or sit with people who think this way. He refers to such people as “wicked” or “ungodly”… and He calls those who avoid them “Blessed.” He’s not telling Christians to go live on a deserted island away from the rest of society. To the contrary, He directs us to go into the world to tell others about Jesus. However, as we go into the world He expects us to stay away from ungodly ways and not “hang out” (i.e., walk, stand or sit) with people who undermine God’s laws. Let’s be careful who we choose to “walk in step” with…
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