“Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.” (Ps. 1:5 NKJV)

Though we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10), not all will receive favorable sentences, namely the ungodly. If one stands in the way of sinners, they will fall in judgment.

Christ has called us out of a sinful lifestyle and into a life of holiness (1 Pt. 2:5, 9). Observe how often the apostle Paul makes this point in his epistles as he addressed them to the saints (holy ones) e.g., Rm. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2; 2 Cor. 1:1; Eph. 1:1. We are to be holy as God is holy (1 Pt. 1:15-16).

One day the Lord will divide the sheep from the goats (Mt. 25:31ff). The sheep know the voice of the Chief Shepherd and follow Him (Jn. 10:1ff; 1 Pt. 5:4). Let us follow the Good Shepherd and stand fast in the faith (1 Cor. 16:13). In doing so we will have confidence that on the final day we will hear those beautiful words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Trent Thrasher

“The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.” (Ps. 1:4 NKJV)

In contrast to the firmly planted tree of the godly (cf. Ps. 1:3), the ungodly have no sure footings or roots. They are likened to the chaff or light husks and waste products of grain. Chaff is susceptible to being blown about easily by the wind. Let us not be children, tossed about with every wind of doctrine (Eph. 4:14), but rather speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). The church’s collective growth comes in edifying (building up) one another in the body of Christ (Eph. 4:16).

Speaking of chaff, the winnowing fan is in the hand of the Lord. He will thoroughly purge His threshing floor. The wheat (godly) will go into the barn. The chaff (ungodly) will be burned with unquenchable fire (Mt. 3:12). What will it be? Into the barn or burned? The choice is ours. Let us grow like wheat and produce the fruit the Lord is seeking so we can be with Him forever (cf. Mt. 13:24-30, 36-43)!

Trent Thrasher

“He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.” (Ps. 1:3 NKJV)

The righteous man is likened to a tree that is planted by the rivers of water. This is a tree that God has planted, the seed being the Word of God (Lk. 8:11). We want to make sure we receive the Word with meekness (Jm. 1:21). Every plant which the Father has not planted will be uprooted (Mt. 15:13). There is no better place to be planted than the church which belongs to Christ, i.e., the church of Christ (Acts 20:28; Rm. 16:16)!

Without leaves the tree could not produce fruit therefore, they are greatly needed! Consider prayer (1 Th. 5:17), thanksgiving (1 Th. 5:18), and meditation (Ps. 1:2) as just a few of those leaves. Our fruit bearing should increase as we mature as Christians. To everything there is a season and the time to bear fruit is right now (Ecc. 3:1; Jm. 4:13-17)! Jesus understood this and was actively bearing fruit (Jn. 9:4).

By man’s standards Jesus was unsuccessful, but not by God’s! He accomplished His mission and was and is exalted (Phil. 2:5-11). May we follow in His footsteps and prosper. Let us be steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord for our labor is not in vain in the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58).

Trent Thrasher

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.” (Ps. 1:2 NKJV)

The godly person delights (finds pleasure) in the law of the LORD. The apostle John reminds us that God’s commandments are not burdensome (1 Jn. 5:3). It is a great blessing to be a child of God and to obey His commands! We should derive pleasure, joy, and happiness every day as we peruse and apply the Scriptures.

We have all had a good meal before, but something else must take place for the full benefit to our bodies: digestion. So it is spiritually. We eat and drink by reading and study of the Word, and we digest the Word with meditation. We must ponder upon what God is telling us. Meditation will result in respecting God’s ways (Ps. 119:15-16). Meditation will result in talking about God (Ps. 77:12). Meditation will result in remembering all that God has done (Ps. 143:5), just to name a few! Can you find more?

How often should we meditate? The Psalmist said, “day and night.” God instructed Joshua to do the same following the death of Moses (Jos. 1:8). Considering what Joshua was getting ready to do (take the promised land), can we afford to do anything less as we march toward Heaven? If we are to meditate day and night, then that implies we are to be reading and studying the Word as frequently!

Two reading trees (one for the Old Testament and one for the New Testament) have been planted on the wall by the nursery to encourage us to read our Bibles. Please contribute to the beauty of these trees by reading the blessed Word of God and filling out a leaf for each book of the Bible you read. What a delight it is to read, study, meditate, and apply the Scriptures to our lives!

Trent Thrasher

“Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;” (Ps. 1:1 NKJV)

How happy and joyful it is to abstain from wickedness! Our counsel must come from God and certainly not from the ungodly who are against God (Pr. 1:5, 2:6, 19:21, 21:30). Do not consent to their wicked ways (Pr. 1:10, 14:12). We do not maintain ourselves in the way of sinners for that way leads only to death (Pr. 14:12). We should avoid that path altogether and stand on the path of the just (Pr. 4:14-19). Even when peer pressure is present, do not follow a crowd to do evil (Ex. 23:2). Do not give in to wickedness and dwell with the mockers. God is not mocked and what we show we will reap (Gal. 6:7-8).

A regress of events is seen in this first verse of the first Psalm from "walks", to "stands", to "sits" as it relates to ungodliness. This is how sin takes us backwards from God and why it must be dealt with swiftly. Let us determine in our hearts to walk after the Spirit and His teachings (Rm. 8:4; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pt. 1:20-21; 1 Cor. 2:10-13), to stand for Jesus and against the devil (Eph. 6:10-18), and to sit at the feet of Jesus to hear His Word (Lk. 10:39)!

My family is truly blessed to be a part of this congregation of the Lord’s people and look forward to another great year of laboring together! Happy New Year from the Thrashers.

Trent Thrasher