Who Are You Sitting With?
A reflection on Psalm 1
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… ~ Psalm 1:1 (ESV)
I recently got to go to the high school boys’ basketball state championship game at the Kohl Center in Madison. One thing was very important as we were planning the day: What section would we sit in? We were cheering for Abundant Life Christian School, and it was imperative that we sit in the ALCS fan section! Who you sit with matters.
In Psalm 1, we see that God also cares who we sit with. A blessed man doesn’t walk with the wicked, stand with sinners, or sit with scoffers. Now, this does not mean that a Christian shouldn’t have non-Christian friends. In fact, sometimes it’s the Christians who are sinful and scoff at God’s Word. As followers of Jesus, we’ve been given an assignment from our Lord: “You will be my witnesses... to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). We can’t testify to the gospel as a witness to unbelievers if we don’t know any.
What Psalm 1:1 is talking about isn’t who you know or even who you’re friends with, but who you identify with. Who immediately comes to mind when you think of “your people?” Over time, we grow to reflect the people we identify with. We begin to look like “our people.” This is why God cares who we sit with.
As I reflected on Psalm 1:1, the Lord spoke in his gentle whisper. Come sit with me. God wants me to sit with him! It’s incredibly humbling and incredibly affirming to be invited to sit with God. And this invitation isn’t just for me. “Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you” (Zech 1:3). The invitation is for everyone who reads their Bible. Will you sit with the Lord this week?
My comment isn't really anything to do with your blog this week but I felt the need comment about Lakeview Church.
My wife and I started watching online about a year and a half to two years ago. My wife had decided to leave the church she was a member of (a story that can only be told by her). She was devastated and I recognized how important church was to her so we started watching online. I had not been attending any church in many years (a very long story) and felt that I was being drawn to Lakeview. We were both very impressed with nearly all aspects of Lakeview and made the to attend to start attending in person in December 2023. Two things that attracted most are your teaching and the music. Of all of the churches I have attended in my life I have never heard a pastor that delivers a message and teaches like you. It seems that every week has me wanting more. For the first time in my life I am so interested in your message that I wonder where the time went. The music is always the best and I can see that the worship team is truly praising God. I would say much more about Lakeview but I would just be running on. I have to say that I feel closer to God than I ever have.