IronGuys Law Enforcement Ministries
"WORDS OF WISDOM"
By Police Chaplains
"Sin is a Downward Progression"
By
Doni Daudel
Chaplain, Beaumont (CA) Police Department
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
Psalms 1:1-2
Sin is a downward progression. It’s often subtle, inconspicuous and even unnoticed if properly disguised. Yet it’s there waiting to pounce on the weak, complacent and unprepared. Sin rarely takes huge bites out of us. It slowly erodes the foundation of godly thoughts, words and actions, and we crash and burn. The best defense against falling into temptation and sin is the offense of preparation. And we prepare by separating ourselves from the world and things of the world.
In Psalms 1:1-2, the Psalmist starts with “Blessed is the man..” Blessed can be translated as “happy or favored by God.” When we strive to honor God in faithful obedience He blesses us. When we choose to rebel or do it our way, we remove ourselves from Gods protection and become subject to anything. The Psalmist wrote: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful..” See the “downward progression?” We must always be in forward momentum with God. If we’re not careful we stop walking, start standing and eventually sit with the ungodly, the sinners and the scornful.
The Psalmist tells us how to prevent this downward progression: “His delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night..” Time in the presence of the LORD is how we avoid spiritual implosion and falling away. “Meditate” means, “the practice of deeply contemplating and reflecting on the truths of Scripture, allowing God's Word to permeate one's heart and mind..” Only God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, changes a heart and mind. It’s only when we abide with Him and apply His Word that we will desire to be pleasing and honoring to God. Don’t get sucked in the downward progression of apathy and complacency that leads to fellowship with sin. Cling to Christ and walk daily and diligently with Him.