GOD’S WORD FOR  APRIL 23

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.

WORSHIP IS THE KEY

Exodus 20:4

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.”

D.L. MOODY

I would a great deal sooner have five minutes’ communion with Christ than spend years bowing before pictures and images of Him.  Whatever comes between my soul and my Maker is not  a help to me, but a hindrance.  God has given different means of grace by which we can approach Him.  Let us use these and not seek for other things that He has distinctly forbidden.

ERWIN LUTZER

I agree with Moody.  Images often become idols, but the good news is that we can come directly to God through the One Mediator between God and man…Jesus Christ.  1Timothy 2:5 tells us that plainly.  There is only one way, one mediator, and that’s Jesus Christ.

Moses saw a glimpse of God’s glory in the rock, but God has revealed His glory to all of us through Jesus.  We cannot know the glory of God except through Jesus.  John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”   Jesus is the One who came to restore the glory.  It is through Him that we worship and glorify God.  The only intermediary we need is Christ. ( He is fully God and fully man, so He is best qualified, because of His sacrifice for our sins.)

We all should strive to live for the glory of God.  We do not need images, crucifixes, or altars.  Through Christ, we can directly and boldly “draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  (Hebrews 4:16).  When we put God’s glory first and worship Him, we grow in our relationship with Him.

PRAYER

Father, please draw me close to Your heart.  Please deliver me from all other concerns and those idols I put in the place of Your glory and your holiness.

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1 Corinthians 10:14

Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.

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1 John 5:21

Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

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Jonah 2:8

“Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them.

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Leviticus 19:4

 “ ‘Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. I am the LORD your God.”

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Psalm 16:4

 Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips.

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Galatians 4:8

 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

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Psalm 135:15-18

The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands.

 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see.

 They have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths.

 Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.

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Exodus 20:3-6

“You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.

You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,  but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”

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