Wednesday, March 3

Begin by reading again the same verses from Psalms – this time focusing on the first sentence of the Psalm:

Psalm 1:1-2
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields fruit in season and whose leaf does not whither. Whatever he does prospers.

Prayer: Ask God to use his word to keep you from the “counsel of the wicked, the way of sinners, and the seat of mockers.”


Philippians 3:17-19
Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.

Paul wrote these words from the perspective of a Christian living in the midst of the pagan Roman Empire – a culture that, in many ways, was not unlike our own. It was an affluent culture; obsessed with both entertainment and hedonistic pleasure. Paul is urging his Christian brothers and sisters – and us – to live in a way that is distinct from our culture.

In other words, a spiritually mature person is a Christian who is willing and able to live as a representative of Christ in the midst of a culture that is hostile toward the cross. Have there been times in your life when you felt “pressured” into living by the values of our culture rather than obedience to Christ? Do you face such pressure right now? Take a few moments to think about how the influence of our culture might be compromising your obedience to the Lord as well as your influence on others.

Brian Coffey