Greyfriars Eden Epsom Presbyterian Church
  • Home
  • Sunday
  • What's On
    • ESL English Conversation Class
    • Children's Ministries >
      • Kidzone
      • Playgroup
      • mainly music
    • Greyfriars Youth >
      • ZED
      • The Pack
    • Growth Groups
    • Global Mission Lunch
    • Men's Dinner
  • About Us
    • Sunday Services
    • What we believe
    • Our Mission
    • Our Missionaries
    • Prayer
    • Discipleship
    • Leadership & Staff
    • John's Blog
  • Replay Sunday
    • Sermon Series
    • Sermon Archive >
      • 2017
      • 2016
      • 2015
      • 2014
      • 2013
  • Library
  • Job Vacancies
  • Contact Us
    • Links

REPLAY SUNDAY

Begin Your Journey with God

3/1/2021

 
Picture
Listen to the Message
Read: Psalm 1: 1-6
There is a Korean proverb. It says, “첫 단추를 잘 꿰어야 한다.” This means, “the first button should be well connected. Otherwise, other buttons will go astray.” The similar English proverb is “start off on the right foot.” The first step is very important to all of us. You may think you are starting your journey in your company, school, or family. But the first thing to do is to start with our God at all times. Then you will be blessed by God and take the direct path.
At the beginning of this year, many of you will be setting up goals and plans for your family or/and company. We will be wondering how to set up our goals. However as children of God, we know we have help. I would like to show you how to set up your goals wisely. In regard to this, I think that Psalm 1 is a good starting point. Because it is known to be an introduction to all the Psalms. It also helps believers of God how to begin their journey with God.  

Let us read Psalm 1:1. It says, “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.” The messages starts with the word, “blessed.” We often say to each other, “God bless you.” For believers it is a very common greeting. How many of us know what the word blessing means? It comes from the Hebrew word ‘esher (אֶשֶׁר),’ which means ‘happiness or blessedness’. The word ‘esher’ originally comes from the Hebrew  Ashar (אָשַׁר), which means ‘go straight (toward God).’ The basic meaning of blessings is to go straight toward God. Sometimes we forget to go straight toward God. It is easy to go astray in this world. However we are told that we need to go straight toward God no matter where we go and what we do.
 
After this, the verse 1 says, “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.” This verse refers to those who did not follow God. If we do not follow them, we will not be blessed. In this passage, the wicked is known to “rasha (רָשְׁע)” in Hebrew. It comes from the Hebrew “rah.” It means “to be broken into pieces.” This means that if we do not follow God, our relationship with God will be broken. So we cannot be blessed by God.
 
Also, the word for sinners is “Chata (חָטָא)” in Hebrew, which means, “miss, fail to arrive, lose way.” This means if someone does not observe the law and commandments of God, he or she misses God or fails to see God. Believers of God are to follow God in order to get salvation. If they do not follow the word of God, they cannot be blessed by God.
 
How can we make sure as we make our decisions about coming year that we follow God?
 
Let us read Psalm 1:2. It says, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” The Law is called torah in Hebrew. Children of God must hear the word of God, obey him, and teach it to others, so that they can continue to follow God at all times here on earth (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). In order to obey God, children of God should meditate on the word of God day and night. Meditate is hagah (הָגָה) in Hebrew, which means “growl like a lion who is seeking its food.” This reminds us that children of God must be hungry for their spiritual food here on earth, so that they can continue to obey God.
 
At the beginning of this year, we set up our goals and plans. It is important that we have to go straight toward God and turn away from our sins no matter where we go and what we do.



Rev Dr Je Cheol Cook

Comments are closed.

    Archives

    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018

Greyfriars Eden Epsom Presbyterian Church, PO Box 67039, Auckland 1349, New Zealand
Mt Eden Church: 544 Mt Eden Road, Mt Eden
Epsom Church: 10 Gardner Road, Epsom
Phone: 09 630 2460 | Email: office