1,000,000 Chapters – Part 3 Sample

You can tell a lot about a person by their playlist. I bet I could tell if you’re artistic, a runner, or a mechanic just by the music you listen to. The book of Psalms is the playlist of God's people.  It's a collection of different songs put together in the Old Testament by the Jewish people to be used for worship to God. If you grew up in church, you would understand it like a hymnbook that the Jewish people would use for times of worship. 

God had the book of Psalms put together so his people would know Him and be equipped and inspired to live for Him in the world. There are a few themes that string a couple of Psalms together, but for the most part each chapter of Psalms is it’s own song that can be read independently. That’s why for the rest of the plan you’ll find a reading from the Psalms in addition to your New Testament reading. 

The first chapter of Psalms reads like a familiar story. Good vs. Evil, Light vs. Darkness…these are common themes in some of the greatest stories ever told. Skywalker vs. Vader, Batman vs. The Joker, ‘Everyone Else’ vs. The New England Patriots…you get the picture.

In Psalm 1 God gives us instruction on good vs. evil. He’s given us a free choice to pursue either path – blessing vs. curse, life vs. death, happiness vs. ruin. Every person who reads this passage is confronted with a challenge to consider the condition of their heart. Ask yourself as you read: “Are the things I’m chasing after bringing me closer to God, or am I caught up in something else?”

The hard truth is that this passage (and many others throughout the Bible) tells us that people – all people – are divided into two categories: saints vs. sinners, righteous vs. unrighteous, children of God vs. children of the wicked one. That division, between those who love and chase after God and those who do not, has the ability to supersede every other category people can be placed into. So no matter what family we come from, how much money we make, or what we accomplish on this Earth ultimately pale in comparison to which side of this division we stand on.

While God calls all people from all walks of life to come to Him, to believe in Jesus, and have eternal life through Jesus’ death and resurrection – He is also clear. The impact of the choice we make now to either be with God or not will carry on for eternity. 

Consider the trajectory of your life today: Which path are you on? Which path would your friends, family, co-workers say that you’re on? In the end God’s opinion is the only one that matters, but still the perspectives of people we love and respect teach us a lot about ourselves.  

Take time after reading this passage to reflect on where God wants you, and then consider where you actually are. In this constant struggle of good vs. evil that exists in our world are you fighting for ‘good’? Of the two kinds of people described in Psalm 1 which most closely resembles where you are in your life right now?