GOD’S WORD FOR SEPTEMBER 27

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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TWICE BORN

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

D.L. MOODY

The only way to get into the kingdom of God is to be “born” into it. The law of this country requires that the president should be born in the country. When foreigners come to our shores, they have no right to complain against such a law, which forbids them from ever becoming president. Now, has not God a right to make a law that all those who become heirs of eternal life must be “born” into His kingdom?

An unregenerated man would rather be in hell than in heaven. Take a man whose heart is full of corruption and wickedness, and place him in heaven among the pure, the holy, and the redeemed, and he would not want to stay there. Certainly, if we are to be happy in heaven, we must begin to make a heaven here on Earth. Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. If men were taken to heaven just as they are by nature, without having their hearts regenerated, there would be another rebellion in heaven. Heaven is filled with a company of those who have been twice born.

ERWIN LUTZER

We are being readied on Earth to be citizens of heaven. The older we get, the more we anticipate heaven and wonder what it will be like. So yes, among God’s people, we should begin to see a bit of heaven on Earth.

As for those who are in hell, they have taken their stand against God and will maintain it with anger, curses, and with “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:42). In that state, they would not be happy in heaven among those who are praising and blessing God.

The bottom line: Our new nature will find its full expression in heaven. Loving God now, we will love Him better forever; reject Him now, and we will reject Him forever.

    PRAYER

    Father, thank you for giving me a new nature. Thank you for bringing me into your family and calling me to love what you love.

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2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

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Ezekiel 36:26

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

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Romans 12:2

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

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Philippians 1:6

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

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Luke 6:43-45

For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.  The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

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Psalm 139:23-24

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

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Jeremiah 32:38-40

And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.  I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.

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