GOD’S WORD FOR JUNE 21

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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YOUR ETERNAL REWARD

Revelation 22:12

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.”

D.L. MOODY

If I understand things correctly, whenever you find men or women who are looking to be rewarded here for doing right, they are unqualified to work for God;  because if they are looking for the applause of men, looking for reward in this life, it will disqualify them for the service of God.

ERWIN LUTZER

Go doesn’t have a pay scale in heaven by which He evaluates us like people do on Earth.  It isn’t an employer-employee relationship at all.  It would be wrong to think, “Well, thirty years of service, therefore thirty crowns:  twenty-five years of service, twenty-five crowns.”

Paul says we should be “filled with the fruit of righteousness,” which refers not only to our works done for the glory of God, but also our attitudes while doing them (Philippians 1:11). 

If we give a cup of cold water in His name, we will not lose our reward, Jesus said in Matthew 10:42, because He makes such works perfect.  The only person God is really satisfied with is Christ, and God is satisfied with us ONLY because we are in Christ, if we are born again, and so our works are made acceptable because of Jesus.

Jesus said, “Abide in Me and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4). 

Now notice!  Apart  from Christ, we can do nothing.   Christ is not saying we can’t do anything without Him.  He is saying we can’t do anything that will really last without Him.  Ultimately, God rewards us for the work He does IN and THROUGH us.

So, as Moody said, we do not look to be rewarded in this life, but rather in the life to come.

PRAYER

Father, please keep me faithful an give me the desire to seek Your approval, not the praise of men.

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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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