GOD’S WORD FOR JULY 12

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 GREATEST IN HEAVEN

Luke 6:35

“Do good….expecting nothing in return.”

D.L. MOODY

Love never looks to see what it is going to get in return.  I have generally found that those workers who are looking to see how much they are going to get from the Lord are never satisfied.  But love does its work and makes no bargain.

ERWIN LUTZER

All of us have aspired to greatness.  We would like to be remembered or doing something significant.  That desire for significance is actually God-given because God put eternity in our hearts.  In our fallenness, we look or significance in all the wrong places….and that is a problem.

Mark records, “James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You’ and they said to Him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at Your right hand and one at Your left, in Your glory.’” (Mark 10:35 & 37).

It’s very interesting to notice that, when the other ten disciples heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John.  Jesus called His disciples to Him and reminded them that greatness in the kingdom of heaven is  measured by service.  To be first in God’s kingdom is to be last.  “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many”  (Mark 10:45).

Let’s admit that, like James and John, we find it difficult to rejoice over those who seemingly have been blessed more than we have.  From my heart to yours, let us rejoice for any part we have been given in the vineyard of the Lord, however small it  might be; and if others receive greater rewards, let us rejoice as if their reward is our own.  Let us serve with joy, not for what we shall receive in return but for the privilege of serving the One we love.

PRAYER

Father, please grant me opportunities to serve others in humility and love, and to rejoice for victories achieved by others.

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Philippians 2:3

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

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     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.

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         Matthew 5:5

    Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

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      Isaiah 57:15

    For thus says the High and Lofty One

    Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:

    “I dwell in the high and holy place,

    With him who has a contrite and humble spirit,

    To revive the spirit of the humble,

    And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

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    Luke 18:14

    I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

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    John 8:29

    And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”

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    Proverbs 15:33

    The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom,

    And before honor is humility.

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    Matthew 20:25

    But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.

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    Matthew 23:12

    And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

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     Romans 12:3

    For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

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