GOD’S WORD FOR AUGUST 16

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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HOLDING NOTHING BACK

Mark 14:8

She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand or burial.

D.L. MOODY

I imagine when Mary died, I God had sent an angel to write her epitaph, he couldn’t have done better than to put over her grave what Christ said:  “She has done what she could.”

I would rather have that said over my grave, if it could honestly be said, that to have all the wealth of the Rothschilds.  Christ raised a monument to Mary that is more lasting than the monuments raised to  Caesar or Napoleon.  Their monument crumble away, but hers endures.  Her name never appeared in print while she was so Earth, but today it is famous in three hundred and fifty languages.

We may  never be great; we may never be known outside our circle of friends; but we may, like Mary, do what we can.  May God help each one of us to do what we can!  Life will soon be over; it is short at the longest.  Let us rise and follow in the footsteps of Mary of Bethany.

ERWIN LUTZER

Isn’t it wonderful that God doesn’t expect us to achieve beyond our abilities?  We should, however, hone our skills and develop our gifts, but in the end, our epitaph should read that we have done what we could.  Having done that, we are still “unworthy servants”

That being said, we should not be satisfied with mediocrity or laziness.  The apostle Paul uses the illustration of  the athlete in a race to remind us that we need discipline, dedication, and determination if we are to succeed.

Mary gave her finest treasure, the expensive oil, to Jesus.  But cost didn’t matter.  She gave all she had to Jesus, holding nothing back.  Pouring it on His feet was not a waste; it was an unimaginable investment.

Let it be said of us:  “We have done what we could.”  Nothing less and nothing  more.

PRAYER

Father, I stumble, ad sometimes I cause others to stumble.  Enable me, Lord, to rub well ad to hear Your, “Well done”

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PROVERBS 11:25

The generous soul will be made rich,

And he who waters will also be watered himself.

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PROVERBS 3:27

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,

When it is in the power of your hand to do so.

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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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Colossians 3:23

    “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

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1 Corinthians 15:58

    “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

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Ephesians 2:10

    “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

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Philippians 2:13

    “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

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Colossians 3:17

    “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

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Proverbs 16:3

    “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”

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1 Corinthians 10:31

    “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

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