GOD’S WORD FOR JULY 15

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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FROM FIRST BEST TO SECOND BEST

Hebrews 3:19

“so we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.”

D.L. MOODY

When the Israelites first came out of Egypt, God would have led them right up into the land of Canaan if it had not been for their accursed unbelief.  But they desired something besides God’s Word, so they were turned back and had to wander in the desert for forty years.  I believe there are thousands of God’s children wandering in the wilderness still.  The Lord has delivered them from the hand of the Egyptian and would, at once, take them through the wilderness right into the Promised Land if they were willing to follow Christ.  Christ has been down here and has made the rough places smooth and the dark places light and the crooked places straight.  If we will only be led by Him right into the land of promise, all will be peace and joy and rest.

ERWIN LUTZER

When the Israelites refused to obey God and were condemned to wander in the wilderness, they later regretted their decision.  They experienced what we could call the “second best.”  Does this mean God forsook them and said, “well, you know, you made your own bed, you have to lie in it.”?   No.  God blessed them even while they were being disciplined in the desert.  God still gave them guidance through the cloud and the pillar of fire.  He also gave them manna every morning.

Have you made a bad decision in the past and still experience the painful consequences?  God is able to meet us in our wilderness, in the midst of a wasted life, or a life that has been ruined by others.  God comes to help, to encourage, and to forgive.

Cry up to God in your wilderness;  call upon Him, for He is near.  He does not forsake us in the desert, but provides an oasis, a place of rest and blessing.  You can’t redo the past, but your future can still be blessed.  God is the God of second chances.

PRAYER

Father, please help me in my unbelief;  graciously provide an oasis in the desert of my experience.

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Isaiah 54:10

For the mountains shall depart

And the hills be removed,

But My kindness shall not depart from you,

Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,”

Says the Lord, who has mercy on you.

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Psalm 103:8-11

The Lord is merciful and gracious,

Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

He will not always strive with us,

Nor will He keep His anger forever.

He has not dealt with us according to our sins,

Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

For as the heavens are high above the earth,

So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;

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Psalm 36:5-7

our mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens;

Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

Your righteousness is like the  great mountains;

Your judgments are a great deep;

O Lord, You preserve man and beast.

How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!

Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.

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2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

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Isaiah 43:18

Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.

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Romans 5:8

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

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Lamentations 3:21-23

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

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