GOD’S WORD FOR JULY 9

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.

*** ***

PAID AT THE CROSS

2 Corinthians 8:9

“That though He was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich.”

D.L. MOODY

This poor world is groaning and sighing for sympathy – human sympathy.  I am quite sure it was that in Christ’s life which touched the hearts of the common people.  He made Himself one with them.   He who was rich for our sakes became poor.  He was born in a manger so that He might put Himself on a level with the lowest of the low.

ERWIN LUTZER

Jesus became poor and became the victim of dishonor.  In heaven, everyone knew who He was.  On Earth, He was no longer honored – He was shouted at, spat upon, viciously attacked, and falsely accused.  He did not believe that being equal with God meant He had to insist on keeping His high position:  He took on the form of a servant (Philippians 2:5-8). 

He still retained God’s attributes.  He was God in the flesh, but He gave up the use of those attributes and depended totally on the Father.  That’s why He spent so much time in prayer.

No illustration is sufficient to illustrate the mystery of the Incarnation, but think of it this way:  If someone were a millionaire and still worked and lived with the poorest of the poor –if he could live in a palace but chooses a hut – that choice helps us understand a little bit about the incarnation and the tremendous price Jesus paid to redeem us.  He humbled Himself and became a servant.  Nobody has ever been that high who has willingly stooped that low.  But through His poverty, we have become rich.

Are we willing to accept poverty that God be glorified?

PRAYER

Father, please break me of my selfishness and stinginess and make me giving and generous for Your honor and glory.

*** ***

    Philippians 2:5-8

    Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

     ** *

    Matthew 11:28-30

    Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

** *

Isaiah 53:7

He was oppressed and He was afflicted,

Yet He opened not His mouth;

He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,

And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,

So He opened not His mouth.

**  *

 Matthew 21:5

“ Tell the daughter of Zion,

‘ Behold, your King is coming to you,

Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,

A colt, the foal of a donkey

** *

John 5:19

Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.

** *

Romans 5:7-11

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

** *

1 Peter 2:24

who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

** *

    Isaiah 66:2

    For all those things My hand has made,

    And all those things exist,”

    Says the LORD.

    “But on this one will I look:

    On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit,

    And who trembles at My word.

Published by liveinthelightofourlord

View all posts by liveinthelightofourlord