GOD’S WORD FOR  MAY 8

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.

THE CUP OF JOY

Luke 19:6

“So (Zachaeus) hurried and came down and received (Jesus) joyfully.”

D.L. MOODY

Did you ever hear of anyone receiving Christ in any other way?  Zacchaeus received Him JOYFULLY.  Christ brings joy with Him.  Sin, gloom, and darkness flee away;  light, peace, and joy burst into the soul.

ERWIN LUTZER

Christ does bring  joy, but sin causes the cup of joy to spring a leak.  If we are troubled by our consciences, if we find ourselves in conflict with the world, our joy can turn into guilt or grief.

As believers, we find ourselves beset with many different kinds of trials and miseries.  We can’t live with our troubled past and fear of an unknown future.  Zacchaeus, as moody pointed out, received Christ with joy, but then he had to deal with the reality of his past deceptions as a tax collector.  He pledged to give back four times the amount to those whom he had cheated.  No doubt his obedience, which had to be difficult, restored his joy.

When Jesus spoke to His disciples, He promised He would give them a joy no one could take from the in John 16:22.  Our feelings and regrets of our past oftentimes distracts us.  But our true self-worth is really based  on who we are in Christ.  That’s why we receive  Jesus joyfully – no matter the cost to us.  Our self-worth is based on the costliest work of all that Christ has done, and on that basis, He calls us to be a son or a daughter of the Most High.   God wants us to be free to love and serve Him with joy.  As David put it, “My cup overflows” in Psalm 23:5.

PRAYER

Father, even when trials come, please increase my joy!  Please give  me joy in spite of my tears, in spite of regrets, ….joy in knowing Christ.

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Job 38:7

“When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy”

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Psalm 43:3-4

“Oh, send out Your light and Your truth!

Let them lead me;

Let them bring me to Your holy hill.

And to Your tabernacle

Then I will go to the altar of God,

To God my exceeding joy!

And on the harp I will praise You!

O God, my God.”

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Psalm 5:11

“But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;  Let those also who love Your name be joyful in You.”

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Psalm 16:11

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy;  at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

** *

Psalm 30:5

“…..His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”

** *

Psalm 42:5

“Why are you cast down, O my soul?

And why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God, for I  shall yet praise Him for

The help of His countenance.”

** *

Psalm 51:8

 “Make me hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice.”

** *

Psalm 51:12

“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.”

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