GOD’S WORD FOR FEBRUARY 4

We are reading from a daily devotional  called “Running To Win” written by Erwin Lutzer  and the late, great D.L. Moody.   Erwin Lutzer is a light in our day as D.L. Moody was in his.

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HUMBLE REPENTANCE

Matthew 11:23

“And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven?  You will be brought down to hell.  For if the mighty works done in you have been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.”

D.L. MOODY

A man said to me some time ago:   “Don’t you think David fell as low as Saul?”

Yes, he fell lower because God had lifted him up higher.  The difference is that when Saul fell, there was no sign of repentance; but when David fell, a wail went up from his broken heart, there was true repentance.

ERWIN LUTZER

Why did David have to endure twelve years of harassment from Saul, the spear thrower?  God wanted to take all of the “Saul” out of David’s heart.  If God had only exalted David, he would have become another King Saul.

Saul was too proud to fall helplessly in God’s presence, saying, “Oh God, extinguish this flame of resentment and jealousy.  Don’t let me go till my heart is pure.”  He wasn’t willing.  Yes Saul “repented” five times (1 Samuel 13:11-12; 15:24-25& 30; 24:16-21 and 26:21)  He would say, “I’ve played the fool;  I have erred exceedingly,” but then continued the way he was living.  Like an alcoholic or sex addict, his repentance was just another form of manipulation.

While Saul was manipulative, David trusted God.  He trusted that Israel was God’s kingdom and God could give it to whomsoever He wanted.  Rather than throwing the spear back at Saul in vengeance, David didn’t, and instead affirmed God would execute vengeance.  Even after David’s greatest failure, his repentance before God was different.

It was a thorough, complete repentance.  True repentance is a  humble submission to God’s will and His way…..totally.

PRAYER

Father, I surrender my kingdom, submitting to Your Spirit’s mighty work in me.

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Matthew 3:8

Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance.

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Luke 5:32

I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.

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James 4:10

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

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2 Corinthians 7:10

For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

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Acts 19:4

Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

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Psalm 25:8-9

Good and upright is the Lord;

Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.

The humble He guides in justice,

And the humble He teaches His way.

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1 Peter 5:6

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.

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Psalm 149:4

For the Lord takes pleasure in His people;

He will beautify the humble with salvation.

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