GOD’S WORD FOR  MAY 25

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.

ALL FOR GOD, UNASHAMED

Matthew 28:18-20

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘ALL authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.  Go, therefore, and make disciples of ALL the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to follow ALL that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you ALWAYS, to the end of the age.’”

D.L. MOODY

ALL POWER is given to Me….go teach ALL NATIONS.  Teach them what?  To observe ALL THINGS.   There are a great many people now that are willing to observe what they like about Christ, but the things they don’t like, they turn away from.  But His commission to His disciples (and us) was, “go , therefore, and teach all nations…to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.    What right has a messenger who has been sent by God to change the message?

ERWIN LUTZER

Because  of the failure of many high-profile believers, many people today are turned off to Christianity.  But we are called to challenge them to look beyond human failure and instead focus on Christ.

We are to witness about Christ by what we say, “always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”  (see 1 Peter 3:8-17 below).   We witness by our words and our attitudes.  We must witness with humility, recognizing our own sin even as we point others to Christ.  As someone has said, “Evangelism is one beggar telling another beggar where he has found bread.”

We also witness by how we SPEAK, and then by how we SUFFER.  We are told to not be surprised but to “Rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed (see 1 Peter 4:13-17 below).  God wants to build faith in our hearts so when Jesus returns He is glorified by our faithfulness.

We have to see this world as being under occupation.  John says the whole world lies in the lap of the evil one.  We have to know and see beyond the people with whom we are dealing, and to be loving and strong and encouraging in our witness.

PRAYER

Father, I desire to be a part of the great commission; please lead me to someone who needs to know about Christ and what He came to do.

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1 Peter 3:8-17

To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, loving, compassionate, and humble;  not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you would inherit a blessing.  For,  “The one who desires life, to love and see good days, must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.

He must turn away from evil and do good;  he must seek peace and pursue it.

For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,  and His ears attend to their prayer,

But the face of the Lord is against evildoers.” and who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?  But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be in dread,  but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect;  and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who disparage your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.  For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.

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1 Peter 4:13-17

“ but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that at the revelation of His glory you may also rejoice and be overjoyed.  If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, and of God, rests upon you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;  but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.  For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”

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1 John 5:19

We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

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Colossians 3:23

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people,

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Matthew 25:40 & 45

And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.’…….. Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Me, either.’

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