The advice of the wicked

(Psalms 1:1-6 NLT) Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

How do we live in a world but be not of it? Balancing the laws of man with the leading of God’s Spirit? Discernment is given to those who delight in God’s leading and those who find comfort in His staff. Even man’s best attempts lead to hollow promises and unanswered questions; for their counsel keeps appearances of wisdom but the foundation of it is far from wisdom. Those who judge, those who mock should be warned for it is by the same judgment they give that they will be given but those who know God hold fast to His promises, they love His ways, and they trust Him with their very lives. No matter what storms may come or how intense the winds blow they cannot be moved for they know man’s laws cannot bring about salvation nor does it bring joy but contempt and revenge. It is during their testing and trials that they will bear fruit and it is by this fruit their hearts will be revealed but the world cannot see it for they lack the discernment. The very things man’s systems try to prevent it instead creates a breeding ground for, leading to only worse events than the original wrong. This happens every day yet mankind and its systems cannot offer another solution and therefore continue down this path which leads to destruction. Psalms 1:4 “They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly.”