GOD’S WORD FOR AUGUST 3

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.

WHY SERVE?

2 Corinthians 5:14

“For the love of Christ controls us.”

D.L. MOODY

I am getting sick and tired of hearing the word “duty.”  You hear so many talk about it being their duty to do this or that.  My experience is that such Christians have very little success.  Is there not a much higher platform than that of mere duty?  Can we not engage in the service of Christ because we love Him?  When that is the constraining power it is so easy to work.

It is not hard for a mother to watch over a sick child.  She does not look upon it as any hardship.  You never hear Paul talking about what a hard time he had in his Master’s service.  He was constrained by love to Christ and by love of Christ to him  He counted it a joy to labor, and even to suffer, for his blessed Master.

ERWIN LUTZER

There are many reasons we should be motivated to serve God.  The word “love” should be at the top of the list.  That’s a wonderful motivation, and it is absolutely true that God would be worthy of worship and adoration and service even if we receive no rewards.

There are other motivations that are Biblical and legitimate.  One is fear.  Yes, you read correctly, I said “fear.”  We read, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.”  Paul, speaking to Christians, adds, “therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord we persuade others.” (2 Corinthians 5:10-11). Even believers will be judged by what we did with what we were given.  Let us never take for granted that Christ’s love for us will cancel  His honest evaluation of our works and service done here on earth.

But love remains our primary motive; we should love God more than we love our sin.  “We love because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19).

PRAYER

Father, please help me to fear You and to love You more than I love myself.

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1 Peter 4:10

    “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

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Galatians 5:13

    “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”

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Matthew 20:28

    “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

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Mark 10:45

    “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

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Colossians 3:23-24

    “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

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Philippians 2:3-4

    “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

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James 4:10

    “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

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Matthew 23:11-12

    “The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

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Luke 14:11

    “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

1 Peter 5:5

    “In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

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