GOD’S WORD FOR OCTOBER 6

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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NO NEUTRALITY WITH CHRIST

And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed.” Luke 2:34

D.L. MOODY

Do you know that the gospel of Jesus Christ proves either a fragrance of life unto life or of death unto death? You sometimes hear people say: “We will go and hear this man preach. If it does us no good, it will do us no harm.” Don’t you believe it! Every time one hears the gospel and rejects it, the hardening process goes on. The same sun that melts the ice hardens the clay. The sermon that would have moved to action a few years ago makes no impression now.

There is not a true minister of the gospel who will not say that the hardest people to reach are those who have been impressed and whose impressions have worn away. It is a good deal easier to commit a sin the second time than it was to commit it the first time, but it is a good deal harder to repent the second time than the first.

ERWIN LUTZER

Have you ever wondered why a person can listen to hundreds of sermons and not believe on Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins? In the Parable of the Sower, some seed fell on the path and did not penetrate the soil. Perhaps this path had been trampled by people (see Mark 8:1–8). And there is no heart as hard as those who are rebelling against other Christians who have trampled on them. Also, many others feel very comfortable with their sins and with themselves, and so, in the midst of this comfort, they don’t want to change; they don’t want to have God break into their lives. And every time they reject the Word, the harder their heart becomes.

We are responsible for carefully sowing the seed; how people respond is out of our control. Let us trust God to determine the results (1 Cor. 3:6).

    PRAYER

    Father, soften the hearts of those who hear your gospel and make me your messenger.

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Matthew 28:19-20

    “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

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Mark 16:15

    “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”

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Acts 1:8

    “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

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Romans 10:14

    “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”

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1 Peter 3:15

    “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”

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Colossians 3:1-2

    “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

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1 Cor. 3:6

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.”

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