October 27

Psalm 1

¹ Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
² but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.

⁴ Not so the wicked!
    They are like chaff
    that the wind blows away.
⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

⁶ For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Ken Medema wrote a song about a tree, or series of trees, a few decades ago.  Now and then we might still sing the “Tree Song”.  Hearing that the trees grow as they have roots that go down to the water, leaves that reach to the sunshine.  Receiving, and showing, the life that the Lord of Trees placed in them. 

We see trees that grow along city streets, near a river, out in fields, on the sides of mountains, even in deserts.  Drawing life from water and sun they each receive.  Receiving life and giving life.  Bringing their fruits to feed us.  Changing CO₂ into O₂.  Being what trees were meant to be.

As we keep God’s words in our hearts and minds – as we meditate on them throughout our day – we see that we receive life.  We see that we become those who live the way God intends for us and we become the people God intends for us to be.  Being people who bring life and grace where we go.

Hold God’s words close.  See the God who loves us and loves his world.  See that he tells us that we are loved, forgiven and called by his name.  We belong with him.  Let God’s words be the ones that define who we are and how we will love his world as we live within it.

Song – Tree Song

Prayer

God of Creation, who fashioned the world, the whole universe, open our eyes to the wonders of all you have created.  Teach us to use these things for the good of all and to the glory of your name.  In the name of Christ our Saviour, Amen.