GOD’S WORD FOR AUGUST 31

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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ACKNOWLEDGING THE DIVINE PRESENCE

Genesis 28:16-17

“Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.”  And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”

D.L. MOODY:

When people come into the house of God, they put on a sober appearance.  They act as if there was something very strange about the house of God.

I would not say a word to detract from the holiness of the house of God.  But let us bear in mind that every place ought to be holy to a child of God: in every place we ought to be true to God.  We ought to be as true to Him in our place of business as we are in the church.  When Jacob said, “This is the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven,” he was under the canopy of high heaven.  That was where God met him; but God will meet us in the street as well as in the place of worship.  He will meet us at home.  He is also with us in our closets.

Every place is holy because God is there.  Putting on another air and a sanctimonious look when we come into the house of God, and laying it aside when we go out, thinking that this is going to be acceptable to God, is ALL WRONG.  Every place ought to be holy to a true child of God.

ERWIN LUTZER

God says, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1Peter 1:16).  But this is not just a “sanctimonious look,” as Moody described it.  To be holy is to be set apart.  The Bible says, “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit, you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”  (Romans 8:13).  You have to kill sin or sin will kill you.

The fact that God is present everywhere should be a deterrent for willful sin.  As Jacob learned, even in the wilderness is “the gate of heaven” (Genesis 28:17).  What is revival?  It is the manifest presence of God among His people.

PRAYER

Father, like Jacob, please make me to be aware of Your presence.  May I remember You are with me as You were with him.

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Psalm 86:11

Teach me Your way, O Lord;

I will walk in Your truth;

Unite my heart to fear Your name.

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Jeremiah 6:16

Thus says the Lord:

“Stand in the ways and see,

And ask for the old paths, where the good way is,

And walk in it;

Then you will find rest for your souls.

But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”

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Isaiah 40:31

But those who wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.

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Psalm 119:1

Blessed are the undefiled in the way,

Who walk in the law of the Lord!

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Ephesians 5:8

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.

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Deuteronomy 13:4

You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him.

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Habakkuk 3:19

The Lord God is my strength;

He will make my feet like deer’s feet,

And He will make me walk on my high hills.

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John 8:12

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

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