Devotional for October 9

Wait Upon the Lord

34 Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
40 And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. Psalm 37:34-42 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Simplification is the beginning of happiness created by genius. Simplification isn’t so much the combining of many things, as much as it is the ruthless elimination of all things that are NOT essential. Be holy. Strive to be less scientific and seek to become a more perfect worshiper of God. That will sound silly to the earthbound mind. Granted, to be “less scientific” seems absurd, and to be “more perfect” is a flat out contradiction in terms. How can perfect become more perfect? The legalist would be quick to point out that for something to become more perfect, it could not have been perfect in the first place. Such will always be a stumbling block for those who can only see with their eyes. We are NOT talking about the Adamic perfection of flawlessness, rather we speak of Christian perfection. Christian perfection consists of doing the will of God, not a little here and a little there, but it is the doing of the will of God at all times purely from an obedient heart out of love for God. Deep is the well of the living God, and for those who have tasted those waters, the mere thought of becoming a more perfect worshiper of God sets the heart ablaze with joy!  

Today’s Bible Reading

Philippians 3

Psalm 94

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Lord, I pray that your grace may always precede and follow me, that I may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.