GOD’S WORD FOR  MARCH 26

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.  Besides his many ministries, and many books, Pastor Lutzer was Senior Pastor at Moody Church in Chicago for 36 years and now serves as Pastor Emeritus there.  He is  Chancelor and a former professor at Moody Bible Institute, where he taught Theology and Ministry, and now has numerous radio teachings.

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NO AFFLICTION, NO GROWTH

Psalm 119:71

“It is good for me that I have been afflicted,   that I may learn Your statutes.”

D.L.MOODY

Could a life of ease ruin a man?  YES.  If he had nothing but prosperity, he would be ruined.  A man can stand adversity better than prosperity.  I know a great many who have become very prosperous, but I know few such that haven’t lost all their piety, that haven’t lost sight of that city eternal in the heavens, whose builder and maker is God.  Earthly things have drawn their heart’s affections away from eternal things.

ERWIN LUTZER

Every adversity or famine we encounter is a test of our trust in God.  In Genesis 12, God told Abraham to leave all he knows and go into the land He would show him.  Abraham obeyed but discovered the land was already inhabited.  Abraham built an altar of worship, confirming God had chosen the land of Canaan for him.  Yet in that very land, a severe famine came, and Abraham began to panic.  He fled to Egypt, and there he sinned.  To save his life, he lied to Pharaoh  about his wife, saying she was his sister.  When the truth was revealed, Abraham was forced to leave in disgrace and return to the land God had given him.  Once again, the altar appeared, and Abraham was back in fellowship with God.  This is in Genesis 13:3-4.  Simply put:  Because of fear, he had failed the test God had given him.  What we do when the wells of our life are dry is a test of our character.

But in the end, Abraham died a pilgrim, looking forward to a city and a hope beyond this present world (Hebrews 11:10).  God says, in effect, “I will sustain you in the midst of the famine.  It may be difficult, but don’t give up hope.”   The reason we should not give up hope is because God doesn’t leave us – even when we leave Him.

PRAYER

Father, please grow my faith in You all the more in times of difficulty.  Please help me believe in You even when I see no way out of my predicament.

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    1 John 5:4

    For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

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Hebrews 12:2

    Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

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    2 Corinthians 5:7

    For we walk by faith, not by sight.

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    1 Timothy 6:10

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

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Hebrews 11:6

    But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

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    Ephesians 2:8-9

    For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

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    1 Timothy 6:12

    Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

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    James 1:6

    But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

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    Habakkuk 2:4

    Behold the proud,

    His soul is not upright in him;

    But the just shall live by his faith.

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