GOD’S WORD FOR AUGUST 29

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.

*** ***

TIME TO LIVE

John 12:7

“Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial.”

D.L. MOODY:

I can imagine Mary thought that if she waited until Jesus was dead she might not have a chance to anoint His body, and so she came before His death to anoint Him.  There is a lesson there.  How very kind and thoughtful we are to a family that has lost some member, and what kind words are said after the person is dead and gone!  Would it not be better to say a few of those good things before they go?  Wouldn’t it be well to give some of your bouquets before a man dies, and not go and load down his coffin?

ERWIN LUTZER

You might be surprised how difficult it is for people to commend their family and fiends while they are alive.  It might be due to unacknowledged resentment, feeling that no one has given us words of support and praise.  One of the saddest stories I heard was of a father whose son died.  At the funeral, the father put a note in his dead son’s hand that read simply, “I love you.”  I wonder how many times the father said that to his son when he was alive.

As Moody pointed out, Mary, at great personal cost, expressed her love for Christ while He was alive, that is, before His crucifixion.  Thankfully, we can express our love for Him even now since He was raised from the dead and is in heaven today.  In fact, bow your head and do that right now.  Then ask God to bring someone to mind today that you can bless with a word of appreciation and encouragement.  Don’t wait until they die.

“Let me, like Mary, through the gloom, come with a gift to Thee:

Show to me now the empty tomb, lead me to Calvary.”

PRAYER

Father, I love You, but I do long to love You more.  Please increase my love for You and others.

*** ***

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.”

** *

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.”

** *

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.”

** *

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.”

** *

John 13:34-35

    “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”

** *

1 John 3:18

    “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

** *

Romans 12:10

    “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

** *

Galatians 6:2

    “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” –

** *

Matthew 25:40

    “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

Published by liveinthelightofourlord

View all posts by liveinthelightofourlord