Devotional for January 30

May I Wholeheartedly Follow the Lord

73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.
75 I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.
77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.
78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.
79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.
80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed. Psalm 119:73-80 (KJV)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

The Morning Inspiration

Exercise without a proper diet is lacking. Eternal life without freedom from sin would likewise be an incomplete salvation. Sin is a transgression of the law. The law is God’s moral standard of what is right. Obeying the law of God is righteousness, which requires a voluntary wholehearted obedience. The law of God is holy, and to obey is holiness. The requirement of the law of God has not altered since Adam and Eve were in the garden of Eden. All that is known and unknown is governed by the law. Conscience, even in the heart of the sinner, bears witness that the law is good. If we go about trying to establish what is right or wrong as we see fit, the root sin of selfishness easily sets self on the throne of the heart. Self is the abomination of desolation seeking to destroy us all. The prayer of faith is the key to experiencing the victorious life over the hyphened self-sins that are so common among us. The law of God is just, and justice requires transgression of the law to be punished by eternal damnation. Either we repent and accept the offered grace of Jesus Christ paying our penalty for sin for us, or we will surely die. It cannot be otherwise. Regardless of what others may say who hold the doctrine of the deceiving serpent who persuaded our first parents with the lie you surely won’t die. Save us Lord! Teach us to deny self. We know that we are free to turn from sin because of our new life in Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ is on the throne of our hearts. He who has given the law reigns, and He is also the keeper of the law in our hearts. Our faith, our righteousness, and our sufficiency is in God, not self. 

Today’s Question to Consider

What is the role of the conscience in guarding the heart?