GOD’S WORD FOR AUGUST 23

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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OTHER-WORLDLY REST

Ecclesiastes 12:8

“Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, all is vanity.”

D.L. MOODY

The worship of pleasure is slavery.  (Solomon tried pleasure and found bitter disappointment, and down the ages has come the bitter cry, “all is  vanity.)

There is no rest in sin.  The wicked know nothing about rest.  The Scriptures tell us the wicked “are like the troubled sea, when it can’t rest.”  (Isaiah 57:20).  Man, like the sea, has no rest.  He has had no rest since Adam  fell and there is none  for him util he returns to God again, and the light of Christ shines into his heart.

Rest cannot be found in the world but, thank God, the world cannot take it from the believing heart!   Sin is the cause of all this unrest.  It brought toil and labor and misery into the world.

ERWIN LUTZER

Think of how revolutionary it was when Jesus cried out to all who would listen, “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will  give you rest … you will find rest for your souls.”  (Matthew 11:28-29).  Imagine the authority of Jesus – who else could make such a promise?

In the book of Hebrews, the author challenges his readers to ask whether they have actually entered into rest (Hebrews 4:1-4).  In the next  verses, he uses the Israelites who died in the wilderness as an example of those who refused to enter into the rest (which is described as the land of Canaan.)  Then the author continues by pointing out how Christ is our rest.

Like I mentioned in a previous entry, whenever I hear of a Christian who has died, I extend comfort to the bereaved by quoting Revelation 14:13, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”  “Blessed indeed” says the Spirit, “that  they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

The ultimate rest is the everlasting rest of all the saints.  Rest indeed!

PRAYER

Father, please help me to cease striving with You; let me rest in the Lord.

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Psalm 62:7

My salvation and my glory rest on God; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.

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Psalm 131:2

I have certainly soothed and quieted my soul;

Like a weaned child resting against his mother,

My soul within me is like a weaned child.

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Psalm 127:2

…..for He gives His beloved sleep.

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Matthew 11:29

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

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Jeremiah 6:16

Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. ….

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Revelation 22:17

The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

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Revelation 21:4

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

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1 John 1:7

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

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Hebrews 6:18

So that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

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Hebrews 4:16

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

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