GOD’S WORD FOR JULY 16

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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JOYFUL HARVEST

3 John 1:3

“For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth.”

D.L. MOODY

There is more than one kind of joy;  there is the joy of our own salvation.  I thought, when I first was saved, and tasted that, it was the most “delicious joy” I had ever known and that I could never get beyond it.  But I found, afterward, there was something more joyful than that:  the joy of the salvation of others.

Oh, the privilege, the blessed privilege, to be used of God to win a soul to Christ, and to see a man or woman being led out of bondage by the coworkers with Him!  It is the highest honor we can have.  It surpasses the joy of our own salvation, this joy of seeing others saved, and walking in the truth.

ERWIN LUTZER

As a pastor, I have heard reports from people who have gone into a neighborhood to share the gospel.  When they return, they excitedly tell of how they led someone to Christ.  Even though they’ve had a busy day, their countenance reflects their joy.  They themselves are so thrilled when they realize that God used them to share a message of transformation with a needy sinner.  One of the blessings I had as a pastor was to baptize others.  I was exhilarated when I saw new converts weep with joy, hugging one another and sharing their newfound sense of belonging in the family of God

Moody often spoke of the joy he experienced when he saw sinners converted.  These new converts renewed his determination to preach only the gospel.  What a blessing it is to be used by God to bring others to Him.

PRAYER

Father, I make myself available for You to use to advance the gospel.  I long for the special joy of leading others to faith in Christ.

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Luke 15:10

Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

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Romans 12:10

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

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1 Thessalonians 2:8

    So we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.

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Acts 2:42

    They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

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Acts 8:39

Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.

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Romans 12:12

rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

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2 Corinthians 6:10

as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet

possessing all things.

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