GOD’S WORD FOR JULY 26

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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TRUSTING IN ‘gods” THAT CANNOT SAVE

Exodus 20:3 

“You shall have no other gods before Me.”

D.L. MOODY

You don’t have to go to heathen lands today to find false gods.  America is full of them.  Whatever you make most of is your god.  Whatever you love more than God is your idol.  Rich and poor, learned and unlearned, all classes of men and women are guilty of this sin.  “the lowly man  bows down, and the great man humbles himself.”  (Isaiah 2:9).

A man may make a god of himself, of a child, of a mother, a spouse, of some precious gift God has bestowed upon him.  He may forget the Giver and let his heart go out in adoration toward the gift.  “Thou shalt have NO other gods before Me.”

ERWIN LUTZER

Somebody gave me a Chicago Tribune article showing a bus with a slogan:  “In the beginning, man created God.”  That slogan would be correct if they had changed the last word –if they had made it lower case and pluralized it:   “In the beginning, man created gods.”  That would be true.

We are always developing new idols.  Our culture is awash with idols of sexuality, money, fame, comfort, food, entertainment,  beauty……and the list goes on.    The gospel confronts these idols and casts them down as we worship God alone.

I  believe that only God can show us our idols.  We are so steeped in our idols of the heart that we are unaware of all the attention we give to them.  We spend time and energy seeking what is good for ourselves without even asking, “What does GOD want me to have?”  Like a magnet, our thoughts are drawn to something or someone other than God and His Word.

We are often unaware of our spiritual idolatry.

PRAYER

Father, please reveal to me my idols that I  may confess and forsake them.  “Search me, O God….”  (Psalm 139:23).

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Romans 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

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John 15:19

If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.

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2 Corinthians 6:17

Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you.

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Matthew 13:22

And the one sown with seed among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

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Colossians 3:5

 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

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Jonah 2:8

“Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them.

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Judges 10:14

 Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!”

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