Devotional for September 1

The Light of Liberty 

17 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalm 19:7-14 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

We become fit the moment we make a clean break with the unhealthy habits that cause weakness. This is true on both physical and spiritual planes. This is also the only way to the Olympic Games for each athlete. When the difference between a gold medal and nothing at all are the tiniest of margins, everything that hinders must go. Life is far more important than any game, but the rules for winning are the same. As you sow, so shall you reap, and eliminate all that hinders. Life in our time can easily be defined as the age of too much wrong and too little right. Too much eating, too much drinking, too much TV, too much social media, and too much of many other things that only distract and hinder. And to make matters worse, there is also too little exercise, too little Bible reading, too little prayer, and too little believing that only give place to all those other things that distract and hinder. Everywhere we look in this world we find only too much and too little. In contrast, everywhere we look in the Holy Bible we find it only gives light to a single way. If we live in the world, we become more worldly. If we live in the Bible, we become more like Jesus. The better way is thus made clear and simple. (Ezekiel 37:1-10; 1 Corinthians 9:7-10; Galatians 6:7-9; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; 2 Timothy 2:1-7; Genesis 4:7; 1 Corinthians 9:23-27, 2:16; Luke 9:23; Matthew 6:22-23; Hebrews 12:1-3; 1 Corinthians 16:13-14; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Matthew 7:13-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Ephesians 3:14-21)