Remember the Benefits of the Lord
103 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. 10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. 14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. Psalm 103:1-5, 10-14 (KJV)
The Morning Exhortation
Faith must be mixed with the Word to bring forth the bricks to build the body, which is the temple of the living God. Let us not do this with the vain desire to have others look at us with admiration. This will only feed the self-life by inflaming it with pride. Rather, let us labor to be strong in body, soul, and spirit as good stewards and keepers of that which by the blood of Jesus Christ is set apart to be holy. The will must bridle the body to keep it from all that would defile it in order to maintain purity of heart. And this we can do by the grace of Jesus Christ. Shun forever all the ungodly ways of this perishing world. Jesus is coming again soon. Be ready. We are closer today than we were yesterday. Let nothing keep you from your everlasting crown.
Question
What is excellence?
Answer
True excellence isn’t about being better than someone else ( Corinthians 4:7), true excellence is about being the best version of you that God created you to be (Colossians 3). We are blessed so that God may bless others through us (Matthew 25:31-46). Begin with prayer and go to work (Hebrews 4:15-16; 2 Timothy 2:15; Romans 12:1-3; Revelation 22:17-21).
The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer
Lord, make me have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your lovingkindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, fore ever and ever. Amen.