Yield

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; 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 that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. -Psalm 1 (ESV)

My soul deeply resonates with the truth of this Psalm. One of the most joyous seasons of my life happened in the midst of great calamity nearly three years ago. As I walked home from school as a sophomore, I began to think about the change God was bringing about in my life. At the time, I was not a regenerate believer in Jesus (even though I had gone through the motions of church, Bible studies, and the like). I was maturing. I was being blessed with great friendships. I was sure that things were in my favor. But they weren’t. As I finished my walk home from school, I saw a notice taped to the door of the house that I had lived in all my life. In bold and black letters, it read: EVICTION NOTICE. Stunned, I briefly scanned the document and walked inside my house. I waited anxiously for my parents to get back from work. As they got home, I soon realized that there was severe financial dishonesty and friction going on between my parents. That night was one of the most horrifying things I had ever experienced… trying to sleep as my parents had a screaming match in my living room. We had mere weeks to evict the premises. Within that short period of time, I was kicked out of my house by my parents (perhaps another story for another devotion), got into a fist fight with my dad, and acquired a job at a local church. The youth minister at the church I worked as a receptionist for graciously invited me to take a break from all of the chaos going on my life. They were headed to the Panhandle for a mission trip. The Church would pay for my expenses and give me the week off. The Sunday of that week— July 19th, 2015— everything in my life changed as the God of the Universe sovereignly used my circumstances to draw me to Himself and powerfully saved me. The Lord, in His mercy, also granted that, despite the foreclosure, we would be able rent out a house directly behind the church I was working at. This ensured that I would be able to keep and witness to the friends I had made at work and school. Things didn’t get much better, however. My baptism was marked by secrecy to avoid trouble with my parents. I began to wrestle with depression that stemmed from past sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. I struggled with feelings of shame and worthlessness. But one thing remained the same through all of it: my commitment to God and His Word. Within six months of my salvation, I had studied the entirety of the New Testament, became vice-president of my school’s Bible club (it was not wise of me to accept that position, by the way; see 1 Timothy 3:6), and began being discipled by faithful elders and deacons at my church. The Word of God washed over me consistently. The Person of Jesus intrigued me. Illuminated by the Holy Spirit, the Word became alive in me and was soon being put into practice into my life. Did I miss some days in reading my Bible? Yes. Did Jesus say some really confusing things (some of which I still don’t understand)? Yes. Did my zeal needed to be tempered in a healthy way? For sure. Did God’s Word always make my circumstances better? No. But here’s the question that matters: Did God’s Word, embodied most fully in the Person of Jesus, provide stability, cultivate deep-rooted joy, and cause me to bear Christ-exalting fruit? Absolutely! Yes! I think of the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:24-27 when I consider the benefit of reading, hearing, believing, and, most importantly, practicing the “Law of the LORD”: Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it. (ESV) Friends, I know that you do not know me. I don’t know you. But there is one thing I do know about both of us: you and I know desperately need something to cling to. Something to deeply root ourselves in. Something—No! Someone! — to abide in. Discipline and resolve are not enough. Self-made optimism is not enough. Twelve-step programs are not enough. Fleeting feelings of happiness are not enough. We need something for the long-haul when the storms of life come and threaten to uproot us. Remember when I told you that I wrestled with depression? Did I mention that it led to thoughts of ending it all? Pulling the plug? Taking my own life? The storms of life came and threatened to uproot me. They threatened to blow down my spiritual house. For good. But… I had a sure foundation. I had deep roots near the flowing streams of living water that are lavishly poured out on me by Jesus. But there is something greater than even this… You see, that while the most explicit and practical application of this Psalm is our need to meet with God as revealed in His Word, there is a more profound meaning that is so important it may make or break your eternity. It’s this: Jesus took on the curse of the wicked. Or, put another way, was separated from the “congregation of the righteous.” Or, put another way, was the chaff “that the wind drives away.” Or, put another way, did not “stand in the Judgement.” Don’t you see? The Incarnate Word— the literal embodiment of the “Law of the Lord”— was judged by that same Law! Why? Because if keeping and abiding in that Law was up to you, you’d be driven away. You’d be separated from the righteous. You wouldn’t stand a chance in the Judgement. But instead, Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word was driven away like chaff from His Father because He was bearing OUR guilt on that cross. And because of that, you and I NEVER have to fear being driven away. Instead, we are graciously invited into the presence of God where we find rest for our souls and ultimate joy. Yes, read your Bible. But more importantly, believe in the Word that took on your sin. What threatens to overwhelm and uproot you today? Take a minute or so and ask Jesus to cause His Word to come alive in you by the power of the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to make His Word precious to You. Ask Him to be for you a sure foundation. Ask Him to be an ever-abiding vine that supports you. Most importantly, if you haven’t already, believe that His substitutionary death on that cross is sufficient to cover your sin!