GOD’S WORD FOR JUNE 22

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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THE CHRISTIAN RELAY

Matthew 6:20-21

“Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

D.L. MOODY

Very few people are satisfied with earthly riches.  Often the richer the man, the greater the poverty.  Somebody has said that getting riches brings care;  keeping them brings trouble  abusing them brings guilt;   and losing them bring sorrow.  It is a great mistake to make so much of riches as we do.  But there are some riches we cannot praise too much:  riches that never pass away.  They are the treasures laid up in heaven for those who truly belong to God.

ERWIN LUTZER

How much power does the human mind have?  Is it possible for us to talk ourselves into being winners when, in point of fact, we are losers?  The apostle Paul frequently used the imagery of games, particularly the Olympic games of his day, as an example of how to live the Christian life.  He reminded us that those winners received a corruptible crown, but we who serve Christ have an incorruptible crown.  Paul used this imagery as an example of winning and of losing, a contrast of winning on Earth versus winning in heaven.

I want to repeat:  Paul said, “they do it to obtain a corruptible crown” but we do it for an incorruptible crown, a crown that will last forever, a crown that will endure.  Not only that, but it won’t be presented to us by the Olympic Committee.  It’s presented to us by Christ.  Imagine hearing the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

PRAYER

Father, please help me to run the race well, causing none to stumble.  Lord, I long to hear “Well done” from Your lips at the finish line!

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Matthew 5:12

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

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Proverbs 19:17

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.

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1 Timothy 6:9

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

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Colossians 3:1-3

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

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Luke 6:22-23

“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

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Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

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Matthew 6:21

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

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