GOD’S WORD FOR AUGUST  13

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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GOD: OUR SHIELD AND REWARD

Genesis 15:1

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:  “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield:  your reward shall be very great.”

D.L. MOODY

Abram might have thought that the kings he had defeated might get other kings and other armies to come; and he might have thought of himself as a solitary man, with only three hundred and eighteen men, so that he might have eared lest he be swept from the face of the Earth.  But the Lord came and said: “Abram, fear not.”

That is the first time those oft-repeated words, “Fear not” occur in the Bible.

“Fear not, for I will be your shield and your great reward.”

I would rather have that promise than all the armies and all the navies of the world to protect me – to have the God of heaven for my Protector!  God was teaching Abram that He was to be his Friend and his Shield if he would surrender himself wholly to His keeping and trust in His goodness.   That is what we need – to surrender ourselves up to God, fully and wholly.

ERWIN LUTZER

If we remember the context of this promise, we can understand why is was so important and such a comfort for Abram (later Abraham).  The king of Sodom was so grateful to Abraham for bravely rescuing the people from his city, he said Abraham could keep the plunder.  To his everlasting credit, Abraham refused this offer saying he didn’t want the king of Sodom to be able to say that he made Abraham rich.

So, God made these promises:  the Lord would  make Abraham rich and He would protect Abraham from the rogue  nations that wanted to steal his wealth.  God would be both Abraham’s shield and his reward. 

Let’s take that promise for ourselves.  Let our wealth be honestly acquired, and let us trust God to protect us.

PRAYER

Father, please shield me from harm and keep me from greed as you did with Abraham.

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Proverbs 11:3

    “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.”

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*Psalm 3:3

“But thou, O Lord are a shield for me: my glory and the lifter of my head.”

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Ecclesiastes 12:14

    “For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.”

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*Deut. 1:30

“The Lord your God which goes before you, He shall fight for you, ,,,”

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*IIThes. 3:3

But the Lord is faithful, Who shall establish you and keep you from evil.

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speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”

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*ISamuel 2:9

He will keep the feet of His saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness, for by strength shall no man prevail.

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*IPeter 3:12,13

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are open to their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.  And who is he that will harm you, if you be followers of that which is good?

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