GOD’S WORD FOR  MAY 18

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.

READING AHEAD

John 16:13

“He will declare to you the things that are to come.”

D.L. MOODY

People talk about news, but the Bible is the only newsworthy book in the world.  The newspaper tells us what HAS taken place, but this Book tells us what WILL take place, and for people to be closing it and saying we can be guided without it, is just as reasonable as to shut out the sun by closing our windows because we have the electric light.  There is as much reason to say that the sun in the sky is worn out as there is to say that we have gotten beyond the Bible.

ERWIN LUTZER

Weariness seems to be the illness of the day, especially when people describe the state of their heart.  Peace and inner rest are in short supply.  There is good news for tired Christians.  “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.”  (Revelation 1:3).

As Moody said, the Bible tells us what will take place.  “And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire – and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands.  They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, ‘Great and amazing are Your deeds, O Lord God Almighty!  Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations!  Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name?’” (Revelation 15:2-4).

Don’t become obsessed with today’s news; there will be more news tomorrow.  Read the only newspaper that counts, the one which tells us how this world will end.  Jesus –King of kings, Lord of lords, will reign forever.  That is just the encouragement we need in a world with shouting voices and hollow promises.

PRAYER

Father, please help me to look beyond today and remember that, in the end, JESUS WINS!!  and with Him, those of us who have trusted ONLY in His sacrifice on the cross, without adding prayers, sacraments, or rituals, but only bringing Him our sins to be forgiven ONLY because of His sacrifice, for there is no way that we can atone for our own sins.   We thank You and praise You for this.

*** ***

Psalms 116:15

The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s;

But the earth He has given to the children of men.

** *

Psalm 37:6, 18, 29, 34

He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,

And your justice as the noonday.

The LORD knows the days of the upright,

And their inheritance shall be forever.

The righteous shall inherit the land,

And dwell in it forever.

Wait on the LORD,

And keep His way,

And He shall exalt you to inherit the land;

When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.

** *

2 Corinthians 5:1-8

“For we know that if the earthly tent [our physical body] which is our house is torn down [through death], we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our [immortal, eternal] celestial dwelling, so that by putting it on we will not be found naked.  For while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened [often weighed down, oppressed], not that we want to be unclothed [separated by death from the body], but to be clothed, so that what is mortal [the body] will be swallowed up by life [after the resurrection].  Now He who has made us and prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the [Holy] Spirit as a pledge [a guarantee, a down payment on the fulfillment of His promise].  So then, being always filled with good courage and confident hope, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—  for we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises]—  we are [as I was saying] of good courage and confident hope, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

** *

1John 3:2  

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

** *

John 10:27-29

My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me:  And I give them eternal life: and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.  My father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

** *

Romans 8:38, 39

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

** *

Phil 1:6

Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until  the day of Jesus Christ.

Published by liveinthelightofourlord

View all posts by liveinthelightofourlord