Scripture to Read: Psalm 1:1
The second part of Psalm 1:1 says that the blessed do not “stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!” To “stand in the path of sinners” means to hang around with them and become a part of their culture. God wants all of His children to reach the lost with the Gospel of Christ. So, we must engage in meaningful relationships with lost people to show and share with them the love of Christ. But God does not want us to allow them to lead us into their lifestyles and choices and compromise God’s Truth. Instead, God wants us to lead them to Him. We must not compromise our walk with our Lord to make a sinner feel good about rebelling against Him. To stand in the path of sinners means we overlook people’s sinful lifestyles because we’re afraid we’ll hurt their feelings by sharing God’s Truth with them. God also mentions that we must not “sit in the seat of scoffers!” This means not to join those who mock God through their words and lives. When we join them, again, we choose to become like them, losing all credibility in our witness for our Lord. We must choose to be salt and light in this lost world. We shine the light of Christ by treating sinners the same way Jesus did, with love and compassion and with zero compromises to His Truth. We must also pray for opportunities to share (Colossians 4:3–6) with lost people. God wants to use us in their lives but never to become like them.
Challenge & Application
· What must we guard against in seeking to reach the lost, and why?
· How has God used you in the lives of lost people to share Him and His love with them?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!