GOD’S WORD FOR JULY 20

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 FRUIT OF FRIENDSHIP WITH JESUS

Galatians 5:22-23

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,  peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness self control; against such things there is no law.”

D.L. MOODY

The fruit of the Spirit begins with love.

There are nine graces spoken of, and of these nine, Paul puts love at the head of the list;  love is the first thing, the first in that precious cluster of fruit.  Someone has said that all the other eight are an outflow from love.  Joy is love exulting; peace is love in repose; long suffering is love on trial; gentleness is love in society; goodness is love in action;  faith is love on the battlefield; meekness is love at school; and temperance is love in training.  So it is love all the way; love at the top, love at the bottom, and all the way along this list of graces.  If we only just brought forth the fruit of the Spirit, what a world we would have!  Men would have no desire to do evil.

ERWIN LUTZER

Are you a fruit-bearing Christian?  One day, I was talking to a man going blind.  He was angry at people, but most of all, he was angry at God.  He bitterly told me, “I have always been a self-made man.  Now I am going to have to depend upon others.”  I tried to encourage him, but later I thought, God can’t use  “self-made men” God only uses “God-made men.”   God has to take us as self-made and prune us in order to make us fruit-bearing Christians.

The result of friendship with Jesus is fruit-bearing.  Jesus said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide.”  (John 15:16).  As Moody reminds us, the fruit that should be most evident is love, and we love Him because He first loved us.  With that kind of love, we can even love our enemies!

PRAYER

Father, thank You for calling me Your friend and calling me to be a fruit-bearing Christian.  May I bring  You glory by developing a more intimate relationship with You and loving others even as You love me.

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1 Corinthians 13:4-5

    “LOVE is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

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Philippians 4:4

    “REJOICE in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

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Philippians 4:7

    “And the PEACE of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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James 1:2-4

    “Consider it pure , my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces PERSEVERANCE.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

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Ephesians 4:32

    “Be KIND and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

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Titus 2:7

    “In everything set them an example by doing what is GOOD. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness.

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Proverbs 3:3-4

    “Let love and FAITHFULNESS never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

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Proverbs 15:1

    “A GENTLE answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

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Titus 2:12

    “It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live SELF-CONTROLLED, upright and godly lives in this present age.

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