February 4

Deuteronomy 11:26‑28
“Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: and a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known”— Deuteronomy 11:26-2826Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; 27A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: 28And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known. (Deuteronomy 11:26‑28).
SIN never pays. Intemperance cannot produce happiness. Licentiousness brings only ruin and death. These are incontrovertible facts. In all the years of human history, no one has ever found peace and satisfaction in throwing the reins upon lust and living to gratify sensual desire. The path of sobriety is the path of security. A life of temperance is a life of serenity. When the Lord God is sanctified in the heart (1 Peter 3:1515But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (1 Peter 3:15)) and the Holy Spirit is given control of the life, the soul enters into peace and contentment such as the devotees of passion and appetite never know. Every sin brings its own punishment, either in this life or the next, but a life of godliness is profitable in all things, whether for time or eternity.
“Oh, count up the cost, and weigh the loss,
‘Gainst all the gain of yonder Cross.
Then which shall it be? — the joys of earth,
The world’s sad smile, and its hollow mirth?
For that is all it can offer thee;
And then—a lost Eternity!
Or wilt thou now have the world’s poor scorn,
And dwell with Christ through an endless morn?
Wilt thou have Jesus? Then—come what may—
Thou shalt be safe in the solemn day.”