GOD’S WORD FOR JULY 19

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.

*** ***

PARADISE EXPRESS

Romans 4:5

“And to the one who does not work but believes in Him who justified the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.”

D.L. MOODY

The thief had nails through both hands, so he could not work; and a nail through each foot, so he could not run errands for the Lord.  He could not lift a hand or a foot toward his salvation, and yet Christ offered him the gift of God, and he took it.  He threw him a passport, and took him with Him into paradise.

ERWIN LUTZER

Look again at this remarkable conversation concerning the thief on the cross.

One of the criminals who hung there, hurled insults at Jesus.  “Aren’t you the Christ?  Save yourself and us.”  But the other criminal rebuked him.  “don’t you fear God.” He said, “since you are under the same sentence?  We are punished justly for we are getting what our deeds deserve, but this man has done nothing wrong.”  (See Luke 23:39-41).

It’s no accident Jesus hung on the middle cross between two thieves.  He hung there as a dividing symbol of the whole human race between those who believe and those who mock.   The thief who believed was probably as wicked as the thief who did not, but that was not important in his dying moment.  The issue was which one looked to Christ as Savior.

Can you imagine this thief arriving in heaven to dine with Christ that very evening!  If he is asked how he got there, all he can say is, “The man on the cross gave me permission to come.”   As Moody said, Jesus threw him a passport and took him with Him to paradise!  That is all that we can say when we arrive at heaven’s doorstep:  The man on the cross gave us permission to enter the divine sanctuary of eternity.  What a Savior!

PRAYER

Father, I thank you for the gift of saving faith.  I thank You that this thief, in his dying moments, looked to Christ as King, and though his faith was eager, it was sufficient.  Please grant me such a gift of faith that I too might be welcomed into Your presence.

*** ***

John 3:1-3

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

** *

John 3:7

Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

** *

1 Peter 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

** *

** *

Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

** *

John 14:6: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'”

** *

Acts 4:12: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

** *

2 Cor. 5:17

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Published by liveinthelightofourlord

View all posts by liveinthelightofourlord