By The Rev. Ron Purkey
Guest Columnist

Read: Psalm 1:1-3

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

How rich we are in Christ! In Psalm 1:1-3 we have a description of the kind of Christian God is able to bless.

The Rev. Ron Purkey

First, a person who is separated from the world (Psalm 1:1). The Christian life is compared to a walk It begins with a step of faith in trusting Christ and it grows as we take further steps of faith in obedience to his word.

Christians are to make progress in applying Bible truths to daily life. The people God blesses are careful in their walk: though they are in the world, they are not of the world. By contrast, it takes little imagination to see the person walking near sin, then standing to consider it, and finally sitting down to enjoy “the pleasures of sin for a season” (Hebrews 11:25).

We see this sad development in Simon Peter’s disobedience. Jesus said he should go away (John 18:8), but instead, Peter walked after Jesus (John 18:15). Next we see him standing with the wrong crowd (John 18:18), and before long he is sitting by the fire (Luke 22:55). You know what happened: he walked right into temptation and three times denied his Lord.

Second, a person who is saturated with the word (Psalm 1:2). Those whom God blesses are not delighted with what pertains to sin and the world; they delight in the word of God. It is love for and obedience to the Bible that brings blessing on our lives. (see Joshua 1:8).

The people God blesses not only read the word daily, but they study it, memorize it, and meditate on it during the day and night. Their mind is controlled by the word of God. Because of this, they are led by the Holy Spirit and walk in the Spirit. Meditation is to the soul what “digestion” is to the body.

Third, a person who is situated by the water (Psalm 1:3). Water for drinking is a picture of the Holy Spirit of God (John 7:37-39). The Christian is here compared to a tree that gets its water from the deep hidden springs under the dry sands.

This world is a desert that can never satisfy the dedicated believer. We must send our “spiritual roots” down deep into the things of Christ and draw upon the spiritual water of life. There can be no fruit without roots.

The roots are the most important part. The believer who draws upon the spiritual life in Christ will be fruitful and successful in the life of faith. What kind of fruit are we to bear? See Romans 1:13 and 6:22, Galatians 5:22-23, Hebrews 13:15, and Colossians 1:10.

Of course, the perfect example of this godly person in Psalm 1:1-3 is Jesus Christ. He is the Way (Psalm 1:1), the Truth (Psalm 1:2), and the Life (Psalm 1:3).

Read Ron Purkey’s Bible study outlines free at rcpbibleoutlines.com. Purkey has been an ordained Baptist minister for 50 years.