GOD’S WORD FOR SEPTEMBER 12

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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HOPEFUL, NOT HOPELESS

If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.   1 Corinthians 15:19

D.L. MOODY

To deny the resurrection is to say that we will never see more of the loved ones whose bodies have been committed to the clay. If Christ has not risen, this life is the only one.

How cruel it is to have anyone love you if this be true! How horrible that they should let the tendrils of your heart twine around them if, when they are torn away in death, that is to be the end! I would rather hate than love if I thought there would be no resurrection, because then I would feel no pangs at losing the hated thing. Oh, the cruelty of unbelief! It takes away our brightest hopes.

ERWIN LUTZER

I have never thought of putting it the way Moody did: If death were the end of it all, it would be best not to love the departed one, for it is love that makes the separation so difficult. Imagine, wrote Moody, if this life were the end, then hate would be better than love!

But loving those who have died is proper because we know we shall see them again. On our death bed, we need not say “goodbye.” but rather, “see you later.” Our love can continue and will be rekindled on the other side. And our love for Christ will be complete.

Jesus came to deliver us from hopelessness. If you are reading this and you feel hopeless, you are in the right place to receive comfort. As a believer, remember that eternity is coming and with it, the restoration of all relationships for those who are in Christ.   And yes, “Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:20–21).

For the born again Christian, this life is as bad as things will ever get. The best is yet to come.

    PRAYER

    Lord Jesus, grant me the ability to look beyond this world to the next. May I know that my love will continue and my joy will be full.

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1 Peter 1:3

    “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

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2 Corinthians 4:14

    “Because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.”

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Romans 8:11

    “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”

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Ephesians 1:19-20

    “And his incomparably great power for us who believe is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.”

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Romans 8:11

    “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” –

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Revelation 20:6

    “Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.”

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Philippians 3:20-21

    “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”

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