GOD’S WORD FOR JUNE 19

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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EYES ON THE PRIZE

Matthew 14:31

“O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

D.L. MOODY

Someone has said:  “there are three directions to look. If you want to be wretched, look within;  if you wish to be distracted, look around; but if you want  peace, look up.”   Peter looked away from Christ and he immediately began to sink.  He had God’s eternal word, which was a sure footing, and better than either marble, granite, or iron; but the moment he took his eyes off Christ, down he went into the water.

ERWIN LUTZER

So far as we know, throughout history, there have only been two people who have ever walked on water;  the Lord Jesus Christ and Peter.  As has been said, anybody who tells you that they have walked on water are the people who know where the rocks are.  For a brief moment, Peter is participating in a miracle with Christ.  As long as he was looking at the Lord Jesus Christ, as long as he was looking into the eyes of his Savior, he was walking above the waves, but as soon as he glanced at the wind, he thought, “I can’t believe what I’m doing!  I’m going to drown!”  Then he went under.

How long did it take for Peter to begin to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus?   A second?  How long does it take for us to take our focus from Christ before we collapse and fall into sin?  The answer is, “Not very long.”

Let us look at Christ by meditating on His promises.

PRAYER

Father,  please help me recall the promises of Christ, keeping  my focus on Him rather than my circumstances.

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LEAN HARD

“Child of My love, lean hard, and let Me feel the pressure of thy care.

I know thy burden, child; I shaped it, poised in Mine own hand, made no proportion in its weight to thine unaided strength; for even as I laid it on I said, ‘I shall be near, and while he leans on Me, this burden shall be Mine, not his; so shall I keep My child within the circling arms of Mine own love.’

Here lay it down, nor fear to impose it on a shoulder which upholds the government of the worlds. Yet closer come, thou art not near enough; I would embrace thy care, so I might feel My child reposing on My breast.

“Thou lovest Me? I know it. Doubt not, then, but, loving Me, lean hard.”

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  Hebrews 12:2

 Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…” This verse encourages believers to keep their eyes on Jesus, especially during difficult moments.

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Philippians 3:13-15

Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Therefore, all who are mature, let’s have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that to you as well;

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    Colossians 3:2

 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” This encourages believers to focus on Jesus for true peace and identity.

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    Isaiah 26:3

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. 

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1 Thessalonians 1:3

constantly keeping in mind your work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,

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1 Timothy 1:19

keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.

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Revelation 14:12

Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

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