The God Who Can’t Be Figured Out

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For He looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven; To make the weight for the winds; and He weigheth the waters by measure.” Job 28:24-25

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

There are certain things God is not going to reveal. And that is good news. Who wants to believe in a God that they can put in a box and completely understand? Not me.

You can take a bucket down to the ocean and dip out a bucket full of water. Everything in that bucket is ocean, but not all the ocean is in the bucket. Amen? And with our bucket-size minds, we are never going to know all there is about God. I’m not. You’re not. Nobody is.

ACTION POINT:

Deuteronomy 29:29 says, “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

How Do You Measure Your Worth?

We were made in the image of God!

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.  - Genesis 1:27

We were to live a life in paradise until we were enticed by satan to sin and thus it began!

Sin entered in and everything changed!

The good things began to be perverted.

God's Judgment on Man: 

13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

14 The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 

15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." 

16 To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." 

17 And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 

18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 

19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return."  - Genesis 3:13-19

God saw that man was wicked and He was grieved that He gave him life:

5 The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

6 And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. - Genesis 6:5-6

But God being merciful toward man, sent His only Son to be THE sacrifice for my sin and your sin!

How can this be?

The God of the universe thought humans were worthy of His mercy.

He sent a SINLESS JESUS to suffer for you and me!!

Sinner, that is the measure of your worth! 

Sinless Jesus:

6 It has been testified somewhere, "What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? 

7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, 

8 putting everything in subjection under his feet." Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 

9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. - Hebrews 2:6-10

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11

11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,

12 saying, "I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise." 

13 And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again, "Behold, I and the children God has given me." 

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham.

17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. - Hebrews 2:11-18

Don't face eternity without Christ! 

What Do You Love More than Jesus?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 3:16

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The rich man asked Jesus, “Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17). Then Jesus asked him if he had kept the law. He said yes. In love Jesus responded, “One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow Me” (Mark 10:21b). But the rich man was “sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:22).

Jesus let him go. Jesus didn’t run after him. And there’s another thing I want you to notice: Jesus didn’t lower His standards. 

ACTION POINT:

Is there anything you love more than Jesus? You must willingly lay it down to be saved.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Battle For Your Soul

Satan's pursuit of your eternal soul:

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. - 1 Peter 5:8-10

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.

7 The LORD said to Satan, "From where have you come?" Satan answered the LORD and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it."

8 And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?"

9 Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for no reason?

10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face."

12 And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. - Job 1:6-12

God's pursuit of your eternal soul:

5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"?

6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.

10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. - James 4:5-10

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person-though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. - Romans 5:6-11

Jesus-God's eternal provision for your soul:

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned-

13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.

14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.

16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.

17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.

19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.

20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,

21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. - Romans 5:12-21

1Tim.2:5
5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

Rev.22:
11 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy."
12 "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done.
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."

14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.

Not to Decide Is to Decide

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” Deuteronomy 30:19

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Years ago I was witnessing to a young lady in Florida. I asked her if she had received Jesus as her Lord and Savior. She became teary-eyed and said, “I just don’t seem…no…I can’t do it today.” I asked her, “Don’t you realize that if you don’t receive Him, that you’re going to deny Him?” She said, “Oh, I wouldn’t deny Him for anything.” I said, “But there’s no middle ground.” And yet she refused.

I said, “Before you go, would you shake hands with me?” And she said, “Well, certainly.” And so I said, “If you’ll take Christ as your Savior, take my right hand. If you’ll take hell and refuse Christ, take my left hand.” She refused to take either of my hands. 

ACTION POINT:

Every person has a choice. There is no neutral ground. You are either crowning Jesus as Lord of your life or you are not. Which is it my friend?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Shaking Hands or Saving Lives?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

There was a preacher who kept a painting in his study of a shipwreck. There were sailors in lifeboats reaching out their hands to people floating on debris from the ship. A little boy looked at the painting and asked his daddy, “Are those in the lifeboats trying to save those people or are they just shaking hands?”

I wonder about us. It is all right to have friends; in fact, I encourage you to do that. But are you doing more than just socializing? Wouldn’t it be a shame if all you did was shake the hands of those around you, when you could be serving and showing them the way to God through Jesus Christ?

ACTION POINT:

We don’t pray, live, and witness as if people are dying and going to hell or heaven every day around us. May God have mercy on us. The need of the hour is for men and women to have a servant’s heart.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Hidden from the Wise, Revealed to the Humble

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in His presence.” 1 Corinthians 1:27-29

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

What wisdom is there in dying on a cross? The Greeks couldn’t understand it, and yet that is the wisdom of God.

God is so wise that the person with the highest IQ cannot figure Him out. If you could come to God with your intellect, then God is not fair because all of the smart people would have a head start and the rest of us would be left standing in the shadows. Your spirituality would be based upon your intellect.

I’m so glad that God has “hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes” (Matthew 11:25). 

ACTION POINT:

It’s not that God is so high that few can figure Him out; it is that God has placed Himself at such a level that few of us will get down low enough to see God revealing Himself to us. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Perfect in His Sight

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” Romans 4:8
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
God has imputed His righteousness to every believer. That means that instead of your sin being on your account, it is His righteousness instead. Not only has He forgiven us. Not only has He covered our sins. But He gives us His righteousness.

I fail, but God will not impute that to me. If God were to impute sin to me, then when I fail I would be lost again. How much sin would it take to make me lost? Just one-half of one sin.

You see, I’m not going to heaven because I’m perfect. I’m not perfect. You’re not perfect. No one is perfect. But we have received Christ as our righteousness. And in His eyes, we are perfect.

ACTION POINT:
Stop now and thank God for imputing to you His own righteousness. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Absolution

Definition of absolution:

Release from guilt, pardon, mercy 

No preacher, no priest, and no other person can offer this to a sinner only Christ alone!

Is it possible to get absolution from a sinful past? Yes!

How? 

By the shedding of His blood to satisfy God's wrath due sinful man!

Who is this blessed Trinity?

God the Father

15 "It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. 

16 When he utters his voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses. 

17 Every man is stupid and without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, for his images are false, and there is no breath in them. 

18 They are worthless, a work of delusion; at the time of their punishment they shall perish.  - Jeremiah 51:15-18

Jesus the Son

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. - Matthew 28:18

35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.

36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. - John 3:35-36

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, - Philippians 2:5-12

Holy Spirit-our helper sent from God after the death of Christ

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

28 You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. - John 14:26-28

Absolution-forgiveness

But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.  - Psalm 130:4

To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him - Daniel 9:9

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? - Romans 2:4

for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. - Matthew 26:28

to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' - Acts 26:18

God Sees Both the End and the Beginning

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:29 

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

God’s wisdom is supreme. Now, we know after the fact, but God knows before the fact. The word “foreknow” is from the Greek word proginosko. God’s foreknowledge can best be illustrated like the viewing of a parade.

If you watch a parade from the ground level, you will see the floats as they come past one at a time. But suppose you could go up in a 30-story building and look down upon the parade? Then, you would not only see the float directly in front, but quite possibly the first and last float. You now have a different vantage point.

ACTION POINT:

We live in history. We see events as they come by one at a time. But God dwells in eternity. And He sees the beginning, the end, and everything in between. And God knows everything.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Be Vigilant—You Have an Enemy

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Your adversary the devil is prowling about like a roaring lion. Don’t underestimate his power.

Satan is an enemy you need to respect like an electrician who has respect for the wires that carry deadly voltage. He knows where the insulation is and he knows how to handle electricity. If an electrician loses his respect for this power, he is going to be in serious trouble.

ACTION POINT:

Everything may be going great for you right now. You’ve got money in the bank, a good job, good health. You’re dancing through the forest and picking wildflowers. But behind a bush is a lion so deadly, he can pounce on you and swallow you whole. You’ve got to be vigilant.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Submitting to One Another

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

If we are going to survive in the tough times of our lives, we must learn to submit. That’s right. Now, I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but let me explain.

The Word of God teaches us that no one is inferior to anyone else. We are one in Jesus Christ. Submission is something we do to one another “in the fear of God” (Ephesians 5:21). Through submission comes power and victory.

Do you want to know a good definition of submission? Here it is: Submission is one equal willingly placing himself under another equal that God may therefore be glorified. 

ACTION POINT:

We are never more like Jesus than when we submit. And never more like the devil than when we rebel.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

How Do You Know Jesus?

Do you have knowledge of Him or do you have an intimate relationship with Him?

You should know Him, His ways, His commandments, understand He created you with a soul that lives eternally, understand He created the world and the universe etc.

You should be in His word everyday for that relationship to deepen.

You should know His mercy is a thing to be praised.

You should share Him with the world!

God spoke the world into existence!

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. - Hebrews 11:3

God spoke the universe into existence!

6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. 

7 He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses. 

8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! 

9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.  - Psalm 33:6-9

God created man!

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.  - Genesis 1:27

God created you with a soul that lives eternally! 

45 Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'

46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." - Matthew 25:45-46

and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. - Ecclesiastes 12:7

God shows mercy!

3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,

4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. - 1 Timothy 2:3-4

But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. - Galatians 3:22

God alone gives salvation through His Son!

7 Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, 

8 for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, 

9 that he should live on forever and never see the pit.  - Psalm 49:7-9

5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. - 1 Timothy 2:5-6

There will be judgment! 

on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. - Romans 2:16

And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. - Acts 10:42

21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.

22 The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,

23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. - John 5:21-24

ARE YOU READY ?????

Two Days that Will Steal Your Joy

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

There are two days that can steal your joy and the fulfillment of today. One is tomorrow and the other is yesterday. Both are days in which we as Christians should refuse to live.

So many of us have never learned how to separate ourselves from yesterday. We are still dragging it around with us and it is stealing our joy. Paul could have lived there in the realm of guilt, but he refused.

ACTION POINT:

Maybe you, like Paul and countless others, have committed some horrible sins. But friend, what God has called cleaned, let no man call unclean. If you have confessed that sin and given it to God, it is buried in the depths. Don’t let it contaminate your day. Learn to live in the present.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

When?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” John 9:4

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Robert Moffett, a great missionary statesman, said, “We shall have all eternity in which to celebrate our victories, but only one short hour before the sun sets in which to win them.” 

Life’s setting sun is sinking low. There are only a limited number of days in which to save souls. Are you going to spend your days investing in the things of this world, or putting up treasures in heaven? When? 

Are you going to start sowing seeds of salvation or are you going to plant happiness in this life alone? When? 

Are you going to do something nice for your wife? When? 

Are you going to write your father? When?

ACTION POINT:

Make a promise to yourself right now that you will not put off until tomorrow what you should be doing today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Who Are You Burning Your Candle For?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Romans 8:13

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

We preachers are fond of saying, “Get right with God. You may die!” It is far better to say, “Get right with God. You may live!” The greatest joy in life is living for Jesus. Why waste more time? There is a life to live.

Friend, the best thing that you can say about a life lived without Christ is that it is a wasted life. Billy Sunday, a revival preacher from the 1920s, said that the deathbed repentance is “burning the candle of life for the devil, and then blowing the smoke in God’s face.”

ACTION POINT:

If you are not saved, it’s not too late for you to be saved. If you want to be saved wherever you are, whoever you are, whatever you’ve done, Jesus wants to save you. Repent and believe and you will be saved.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

His Peace and Joy in Suffering

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.” 1 Peter 2:21

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Christ suffered for you. 

“But I don’t want to suffer for Him.” 

You’re going to suffer anyway—whether you are saved or lost. That is life in a fallen world.

When you submit to Jesus Christ and obey the Word of God, He is going to arch a rainbow of hope over your suffering. He is going to write Romans 8:28 over what you are going through. You will know that your current trial is for your good.

ACTION POINT:

Surrender and submission to God is the only way to get His grace and power over your life. Joy, peace, and worry-free days are ahead for the one who lays his life down for the glory of God. Suffering will come, but joy will follow.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

An Offering of Continual Praise

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

In the Old Testament, the priests would offer an animal sacrifice to God. What do believers offer today? Romans 12:1 tells us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices.

And just as the altars of old had two flesh hooks to keep the sacrifice from slipping off, we have two hooks that hold our bodies there—discipline and devotion. Are you disciplining yourself and devoting yourself as a living sacrifice to the glory of God?

In the Old Testament, the priests would burn incense as a fragrant offering to the Lord. What do we do today? Hebrews 13:15 says we continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise. 

ACTION POINT:

Our incense of praise should be going up out of our body, as we are the temple of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 3:16). Are you giving God a continual offering of praise every moment of every day? 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Satan Is Here

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. - 1 Peter 5:6-11

Are you standing on God's provision? 

You say what is this? 

It is His powerful word!

11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. - Hebrews 4:11-13

It begins the moment, you in faith, that is totally believing on Christ for salvation through His death and His resurrection. 

Our trust is in God's provision!

God has given us His inspired word to lead us in doing His will for His glory.

His word and our obedience to it is our provision!!

We are being changed to be more like Christ, striving to be holy for this is the perfect will of God!

20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,

21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,

23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. - Ephesians 1:20-23

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-

3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,

5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved-

6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. - Ephesians 2:1-9

God is Beautifully Arranging You!

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

I’ve had the privilege of pastoring churches in the midst of building campaigns, and it’s been a faith-growing experience to watch God work. In fact, I will never forget the first church where that happened: in Fort Pierce, Florida.

There was an elderly architect who was over the job, and he said something I will never forget. As we were looking over the plans I said, “It can’t be expensive because we don’t have much money.” And he replied, “Oh, my boy. Good architecture is not an arrangement of beautiful materials. It is a beautiful arrangement of materials.”

You see, the Lord can take people like you and me from the quarry of sin. And with His grace and His Word, He can fit us together into a majestic temple of God.

ACTION POINT:

You are an irreplaceable part of His beautiful workmanship.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Is Jesus Your Stumbling Block or Your Stepping Stone?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:23-24

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Jesus Christ will be either a stepping stone into heaven or a stumbling stone into hell. No one can be neutral about Jesus Christ. Either you rise on Him, or you fall on Him. You cannot walk around Him. Either you’re saved by Him or you’re judged by Him.

ACTION POINT:

You will encounter Jesus Christ. He is inevitable. He is unavoidable. He is inescapable. What you do with Jesus Christ determines what Jesus Christ will do with you. What are you doing with Jesus Christ today?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Saved, Sealed and Secure!

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the Word of Truth, the gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.” Ephesians 1:13

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

What does it mean that you are sealed with the Holy Spirit? 

First, it is a mark of authenticity. If the Holy Spirit is not in you, then you are a fake. First John 3:24 says, “And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us.”

Second, the seal is a mark of ownership, like the branding of a cow. You are His. Romans 8:9 says, “if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.”

Third, the seal is a mark of security. Esther 8:8 tells about this type of seal, which “no man can reverse.” 

ACTION POINT:

The way I am kept saved is because God sealed me. The way you are kept saved, is because God has sealed you.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Faith: Your Link to Promise and Victory

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The life of Joshua in the Old Testament is an illustration of Jesus. As a matter of fact, Joshua is the Hebrew name of Jesus. The Lord Jesus is our heavenly Joshua who leads us into the land of promise and victory. And what is this victory? It is a victory of faith.

There is nothing more, nothing less that will achieve the victory in our lives but faith. Victory is not achieved by fighting. Victory is received by faith. 

ACTION POINT:

You see, when God has a gigantic task He wants us to perform, He gives the contract to faith. Your faith links your nothingness to God’s almightiness and victory is yours for the taking!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

We’re Only on the Threshold of Knowing Him!

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Of old hast Thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of Thy hands.” Ps.102:25

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
I have been preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ for more than fifty years, but I feel I’m just on the threshold of discovering Him. I want to move closer and closer to Him and learn more and more about Him.

Do you know what Paul said at the end of his ministry? That he may know God (see Philippians 3:10). Did he know God? Yes, but he knew so little about Him.

Let me ask you a question. Did Christopher Columbus discover America? Well, he touched on the shores of America. But even today there are thousands of unnamed lakes, forests, and more where no one has yet completely explored. There is so much in Christ.

ACTION POINT:
You may have “touched on” Christ, but God’s plan is that you know Him more and more each day.
LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Which Grace Do You Need Most Today?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The Bible speaks of the “manifold” grace of God. What does that mean? It means we can experience God’s grace in many ways. For instance, there is singing grace. When Paul and Silas were in prison, God gave them grace to sing (see Acts 16:25).

There is speaking grace. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” God will give you the ability to talk about your troubles with His grace.

God also gives us strengthening grace. Timothy was often sick with many infirmities. Paul told him to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1). 

ACTION POINT:

Which do you need today? Singing grace? Speaking grace? Strengthening grace? All three? Spend time in the Word of God today and draw from the manifold grace of God.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

An Inheritance that Will Never Fade

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.” 1 Peter 1:4

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

A man was sitting on a street corner, weeping. A friend saw him and asked, “Why are you crying?”

“Haven’t you read the papers? Rockefeller died.” 

The friend responded, “Why are you crying? You were no kin of his!” 

“That’s why I’m crying!”

You have an inheritance right now as a child of God. It is incorruptible. The foul breath of decay and gnawing tooth of time cannot take it away. It is undefiled. No high-powered lawyer can find a loophole. It will never fade away.

ACTION POINT:

If you understood what you have in Jesus, you would never be jealous of anybody. Ezekiel 44:28 says that God is your inheritance. You have an inheritance that is faultless, flawless, fadeless, and reserved in heaven for you!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Just Passing Through—Our Real Home Is Waiting

BIBLE MEDITATION: 

“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” 1 Peter 2:11

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

God saved you out of this world and sent you back into this world to tell the world that Jesus saves. He is scattering you as precious seed. You are an ambassador upon foreign soil for the King of kings.

You are not only scattered as precious seed, you are also scattered as a persevering saint. You are a foreigner in a land where you march to a different drummer. You don’t settle down in this world. It’s not your home; you’re only passing through.

ACTION POINT: 

You ought to pray, “Lord, if I am building a nest, put a thorn in it.” If you dabble and delight in this world, yet your citizenship is in heaven, you’re going to have one foot in the world and one in heaven—just enough religion to make you miserable in the world and just enough of the world to make you miserable in your spiritual life.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Trade In: Your Weakness for His Strength

BIBLE MEDITATION: 

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

What does it mean to “renew” your strength? It literally means “changed,” as if you changed clothes. You remove your rags of weakness and put on God’s royal robes of strength. God promises to exchange our strength with His strength. 

You see, the Christian life is not just simply a changed life, it is an exchanged life.

God doesn’t just change us from what we were to something better. He exchanges His life with us. He takes our sin. We take His holiness. He takes our weakness. We take His strength. He takes our anxiety. We take His peace. Sounds great. But, what’s the problem? We get tired of waiting for the change. 

ACTION POINT: 

Friend, don’t give up. The wait is never too long when God is in charge.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Seeking Things or Seeking Him?

BIBLE MEDITATION 

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Have you ever noticed that along with the command in Matthew 6:34 not to worry, correspondingly there comes a promise from God to take care of us? One of the most frequent promises is that we will be fed—God will take care of our needs.

Then why does God promise that “all these things will be added unto you.”? So we will not starve? No. Friend, a lot of people who don’t trust God have a pantry full of food. The average unsaved person is thinking about money, homes, cars, clothes, jewelry, etc. Jesus knows we have a one-track mind and cannot serve two masters. If these are the things you are seeking, then you are not seeking the Lord. He is telling us, “You trust Me. Bring all of your attention into trusting Me and doing good, and I’ll take care of you.”

ACTION POINT:

Today each time you’re tempted to worry, bring your concerns to your Heavenly Father and ask Him to help you trust Him.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Learning to Find Real Contentment

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Philippians 4:11

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Paul came to a place in his life—not a physical place, but a spiritual place—where he felt divine contentment. Most people think they know what this word “contentment” means, but let me tell you what it means in God’s Word “self contained.”

In the context of this passage, we learn that Paul was thanking people for their love gifts to him, but he wanted them also to know that he was not dependent upon them because God had brought him to a place of sufficiency in Himself alone.

That is, Paul was able to say, “I have learned that I don’t need anything or anybody else, but the Lord. I have Him, and therefore, I am self-contained, not self-sufficient. I can do all things through Christ.” 

ACTION POINT:

Do you have contentment today in Christ alone?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Do You Need Help Finding Your Seat?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Why is the empty tomb so glorious? Because it signifies more than just the fact that God raised Jesus from the dead. He raised you, too, to walk “in newness of life” (see Romans 6:4). I have come out of that grave. I have ascended. You have, too, if you are saved.

Where is Christ today? Seated in the heavenlies. Where are you seated? In the same place. You don’t have to die to go to heaven. In Christ, you are seated in the heavenlies right now. 

We encourage our brothers and sisters by telling them to keep looking up when we should be saying, “Keep looking down!” You’re already seated in the heavenlies, so you can look down on your problems. You, dear friend, have a brand new life!

ACTION POINT:

Take a moment and ask God to give you a brand new life or thank Him for the one He has already given you.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Trying of Faith Works Patience

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” - James 1:2-4

What does God want out of you? He wants you to experience the fullness of Christ. And the way to this is through trials and tribulations. Can you be patient during this process? If you’re like most people, probably not. We become like children who don’t know the difference between “No” and “Not yet.” If you say, “Wait a while,” to them that is, “No.” They want it now. But God is interested in maturing you. A Danish proverb says, “Give to a pig when it grunts and give to a child when it cries, and you will have a fine pig and a bad child.” Tribulation brings patience, and patience makes us mature.

What are you waiting for? What are you struggling with? Give it to Jesus. Trust in His timing and His provision.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Trusting God with Your Reputation

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Thy works.” Psalm 73:28

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

We can be so protective of our reputations, can’t we? I know of preachers who have lost their children because they were more concerned about what people thought than what God taught.

Maybe some of you are raising teenagers, and they dress in a way that isn’t your style. Maybe your church friends are saying some unpleasant things. Let them criticize! God knows your heart. Those children are yours, not theirs. You need to love them with everything that God gives you. Stand by their side.

ACTION POINT:

Never sacrifice your son or daughter on the altar of your reputation. Trust your children to the Lord. Ask God to give you His wisdom so you can see how He is fulfilling His promise of Romans 8:28 in every situation.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Happiness vs. Joy

“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” - Philippians 4:4

Happiness comes from outside circumstances. Joy comes from within. So it’s cruel to say to people who are in sorrow, “Smile and be happy.” Better to come alongside and mourn with them than to try to force the square peg of happiness into a round hole of sorrow.

The human life is a life of tragedy, sorrow, heartache, and pain. Yet in every difficulty, you can find joy. Happiness is an outside job. Joy is an inside job.

There is someone in a nursing home that longs for that joy. Find some time this week to bring the joy of the Lord to them.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Prayer Lets the Arrow Fly!

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him.” Psalm 37:40

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

In Old Testament days, when a tribe commenced war, they would sometimes hurl a spear into enemy territory. It made no difference whether the enemy was there or not. It really wasn’t for the enemy to see. It was an attitude of faith that was a declaration of war. Some would call it a throwing down of the gauntlet.

You may be reading this, wanting the victory in something today, and yet you haven’t let your arrow of faith fly into the enemy’s territory. Faith that acts will bring the enemy to his knees.

ACTION POINT:

We don’t fight our enemy with actual bows and arrows, instead we fight him with the weapons of prayer and the Word. When we pray, we face the foe. By letting the arrow of prayer fly, God moves in, and our prayer becomes the Lord’s deliverance. God does business with those who mean business. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Blessed and Eternal Covenant Ransom

The Call

The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. - Revelation 22:17

"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  - Isaiah 55:1

37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.

38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" - John 7:37-38

New Blood Covenant

22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body."

23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it.

24 And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." - Mark 14:22-25

The Ransom

26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,

27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,

28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

29 And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. - Matthew 20:26-29

The Only Worthy Mediator

3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,

4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. - 1 Timothy 2:3-6

God's Provision

And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,  - Revelation 5:9

It’s Time to Get Serious

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor.3:18
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
We are changed from glory to glory by the power of the Holy Spirit. That doesn’t mean it happens overnight. But one step at a time.

Today you ought to have a little more glory than yesterday. Today you ought to be a little bit more like Jesus than you were yesterday. And tomorrow, you ought to be even more like Jesus. Are you becoming like Jesus? Not if you’re not in the Word. Don’t you think it’s time for this generation to get serious about the Word of God?

ACTION POINT:
Set aside a time and a place to get alone with Him every day and pray, “Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law” (Psalm 119:18). 
LWF Adrian Rogers

The Gnat vs. the Bee

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” James 1:25
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
James 1:23-24 paints a picture of a man in a hurry. He has a lot on his mind. He takes a casual glance at himself and rushes on. If the Bible is like a mirror, then this man is simply getting a glimpse into the Word and not really applying it to his life.

Most Christians I know today are this kind of Bible student. They are like a gnat bouncing here and there instead of being like a bee and diving in and staying long enough to extract the sweetness.

Contrastingly, the man in verse 25 gazes into the Word. This is someone who delights in God’s Word, who applies God’s Word, who cherishes God’s Word. Are you like that? Or do you take a passing glance at God’s Word and move on to the next thing on your TO DO list?

ACTION POINT:
Which sounds more like you…the passing glance or the careful gaze?

LWf Dr. Adrian Rogers