ICS Daily Devotions
Beware of Ungodly Counsel

Psalms 1:1-3 (NKJV) “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;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”

There are many people who are eager to share their so-called “wisdom”, but we must be wise in discernment and not receive earthly and demonic wisdom. Not only would such “wisdom” lure and influence us away from practising what the Word of God teaches, it may even get us into dire situations. Going through a period of adversity or tribulation can sometimes make us vulnerable to taking any form of advice, including counsel from those who are ungodly or even sinners. However, such advice will not help us in keeping a strong foundation but cause us to give up in times of adversity. God does not encourage us to seek ungodly counsel, to mingle among sinners or to be in the presence of those who scorn God, because light has nothing to do with darkness. How much wisdom can we glean from those who live without God, without hope and without love? They may tell you to seek physical healing from New Age practitioners and other religious practices, including sources that are unapproved by the medical profession. Unfortunately, some Christians may fall for it in times of desperation. If the adversity involves business dealings, it might even lead to unethical decisions or agreements that may have legal consequences, such as trespassing the law. When we listen to the advice of the world, we lose our peace and joy and even intimacy with the Lord, and it will not help us to be resilient; such outcome will be very different from what it could have been if we had followed God’s counsel.

Nobody wants to be like an unfruitful tree with withered leaves. Instead, we want heavenly wisdom from God that’s found in His Word, and to be led by the Holy Spirit and to receive the gift of a word of wisdom wherever possible. As we establish a solid foundation in our lives based upon study and meditation of God’s Word, He will counsel us with His Word, and the Holy Spirit will bring into remembrance the Word of God that we need.

There is no quick fix in life; the consecrated life that is wholly dedicated to the Lord is lived out when we choose to walk out God’s will and His calling for us on a daily basis.

Sermon Series: Resilience