Surely Goodness and Mercy Shall Follow Me

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” Psalm 23:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Goodness and mercy will pursue you all the days of your life. That’s what the word “follow” literally means in Psalm 23:6—to pursue.

Jesus pursued you with His call of salvation, and He will continue to pursue you. His goodness and mercy are like two sheep dogs that follow the flock to assure there is safe journey to the Shepherd’s final destination.

How many times have you questioned God’s provision in your life and wondered if He really cared for you? Well, there's no question here. It says surely, not hopefully. Yes, you and I will stumble, but He will pick us up.

ACTION POINT:

How would you live differently today if you knew that grace and mercy were going to follow your every step? How would you treat others?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Remembering What We’ve Learned

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.” 2 Timothy 3:14

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

In the last days Satan is going to come, and there are going to be more miracles than you have ever seen. Most of them will not be done by God but will be done by the power of darkness—the power of Satan. The Bible says that you can look for an explosion of the occult.

Thank God we don’t have to face these days without hope. God tells us what we must do in His Word. We are to remember what we’ve learned and to take His promises to heart. This will not be a time to doubt Him but to trust Him with all that we are.

ACTION POINT:

How is your personal study time in God’s Word going? Start this week to incorporate at least one hour of personal time in God’s Word to study its promises, prophecies, and applications.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Where is Your Focus Today?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

When a runner is in a race, he puts his eyes on the goal. He doesn’t look at the grandstand or the other runners. Neither does he examine himself. He has his eyes on the goal. He looks away from everything else. The finish line is all he sees.

That’s exactly what we’re to do. The reason many Christians fail in the race is that they have not learned to look away from other things. They’re trying to look in both directions at the same time, and James 1:8 says, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” And Matthew 6:22 says, “If therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.”

ACTION POINT:

Where is your focus today? Has the world drawn you back into itself, luring you away from the command of our Lord? Read Matthew 28:19-20. That’s your goal.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Because God Said So

Survivors guilt and the why me scenario:

We have all said it at one time or another, "why me"?

It was usually said during a time of great stress!

Someone or you are sick and not recovering, someone going through chemo as you sit and watch them suffer or you in an accident survive and someone with you doesn't!

God's timing is perfect!

He alone determines your demise!

He alone knows all things and how they work together.

He alone orchestrates our lives according to His perfect will.

While we know that God has given man free will, He alone gives and takes life by His command. 

Lord, may we honor You alone for Your sovereignty.

Lord, may we rest in how You lead us every minute of everyday.

Lord, may we have Your wisdom in our daily lives.

Lord, may we love the lost with our whole heart.

Lord, may we totally serve You.

Lord, may we have an unquenchable thirst for sharing You. Amen

13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 

14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 

15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 

16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.  - Psalm 139:13-16

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.

7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. - 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

5 I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, 

6 that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. 

7 I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things. 

8 "Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit; let the earth cause them both to sprout; I the LORD have created it.  - Isaiah 45:5-8

Looking Unto Jesus

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

What does it mean to “look to Jesus” to have all of our needs met? Well, let’s say I borrow ten thousand dollars from Dan, a friend of mine, but then I discover that I can’t pay it back. Dan is on to me and says, “If you don’t pay it back, I’m going to foreclose on you.” 

So I go over to another friend, Tom, and tell him about my dire situation and ask for his help. Tom says, “That’s alright, Adrian, look to me.” 

Notice that he didn’t say, “Look at me.” He said, “Look to me.” In other words, “I’ll handle it.” That’s what the Bible means when it says “look unto Jesus.” It means look to Him for whatever you need.

ACTION POINT:

Who is looking to you to have their needs met today? Are you then looking to God or are you trying to do it on your own?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Momentary Earthly Pleasures Versus Eternal Heavenly Treasures

God created both, pleasures and treasures.

God wants man to enjoy both in their proper order and place.

Sin has entered in and perverted things, causing God's perfect creation to take on demonic twists.

Lies abound from the pulpit.

God's truth twisted into something to suit every unrepentant sinner.

God's word has not lost its power!!

Man's ears have become dull!

We are loving people right into hell by not speaking the truth of the gospel!!

We must, unapologetically, stand on the truth!

Not in a judging manner but in the spirit of love! 

For we, who are forgiven and repenting, were once doomed also!!!

By God's mercy we have been forgiven!!

Praise Jesus!

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.

7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.

8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices

10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. - Colossians 3:5-10

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.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:1-10

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,

10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

This Parched Life

Our land is parched from lack of rain.

Our lives are parched from not denying self.

We need rain.

We need mercy.

Our sin is great.

Teach us Lord, Your great word.

Burn it into our souls so that we will share You.

You alone are worthy of praise.

Feed us Your goodness.

Sprinkle Your just word, planting it deep, and bringing forth a mighty harvest.

And all the people said, It is You Lord, You have done it!

9 Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? 

10 In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.  - Job 12:9-10

Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Are you not he, O LORD our God? We set our hope on you, for you do all these things.  - Jeremiah 14:22

25 When he gave to the wind its weight and apportioned the waters by measure, 

26 when he made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning of the thunder, 

27 then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out. 

28 And he said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'"  - Job 28:25-28

25 "Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain and a way for the thunderbolt, 

26 to bring rain on a land where no man is, on the desert in which there is no man, 

27 to satisfy the waste and desolate land, and to make the ground sprout with grass? 

28 "Has the rain a father, or who has begotten the drops of dew?  - Job 38:25-28

Ask rain from the LORD in the season of the spring rain, from the LORD who makes the storm clouds, and he will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field.  - Zechariah 10:1

All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.  - Isaiah 66:2

He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.  - Psalm 135:7

13 "And if you will indeed obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,

14 he will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, that you may gather in your grain and your wine and your oil. - Deuteronomy 11:13-14

And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing. - Ezekiel 34:26

3 "If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them,

4 then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. - Leviticus 26:3-4

9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.

10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. - Malachi 3:9-10

Lord, hear our prayer. In Your great mercy, release the rains. Save Your people from their tremendous amount of sin. Forgive us, cleanse us and lead us in Your great way. Thank You Lord for what You will do. Amen

1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 

2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. 

3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. 

4 So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.  - Psalm 63:1-4

Like a Thief in the Night

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” 1 Thessalonians 5:2

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

There was a man who went shopping and left his car and house keys in the ignition. When he returned, his car was gone. The next morning he discovered his car in the driveway with a note that said, “I was in an emergency. I’m very sorry. I needed your car. Here are two tickets for the Dallas Cowboys game.”

The man went in and told his wife, “You won’t believe this! There’s our car, and look! We’ve got tickets to a Dallas Cowboys game!” They went to the game, and when they came home, their house had been cleaned out!

Friend, they never expected it, and that’s the point. That’s how the Lord Jesus Christ is going to come – as a thief in the night.

ACTION POINT:

How would you live your life differently today if you knew that Jesus was coming back in 24 hours?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

A Merciful Delay

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Have you ever wondered why Jesus has not yet returned? I’ll tell you why. Because our Lord is waiting on people to be saved. He’s waiting on your family member, your neighbor, your co-worker, or maybe you, but one of these days soon, and very soon perhaps, Jesus will come.

You see, it is the mercy of God that holds back the Second Coming of Jesus, but the justice of God and the judgment of God require that one day He will come.

Even now, the raging waters of God’s wrath are furiously pounding against the dam of His mercy. And one of these days, the dam of God’s mercy will give way to God’s judgment, and the day of the Lord will come. Our Lord is coming!

ACTION POINT:

Does the Lord’s return make your heart beat faster because you anticipate His coming or dread His coming?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

No One Knows the Day or the Hour

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Matthew 24:36

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Anybody who sets a date for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ may be crossing the line of blasphemy. The Bible teaches very clearly and plainly, and our Lord taught, that no one knows the time—no one.

Just before our Lord was taken up into glory the disciples asked Him, “Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power” (Acts 1:6-7). No one knows the day when Jesus Christ is coming again, but what a glorious day that will be!

ACTION POINT:

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. What encouragement do you need to share with someone today?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Embracing God's Light By Faith

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.” Matthew 4:16

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

There are two witnesses for the existence of God to all people: 

One is the objective witness of creation. 

The other is the subjective witness of conscience. 

God speaks to a man and the man responds, “God, I want to know You and I need to know You. I do believe that You exist.” 

That’s faith, and he goes from faith to faith as he steps in the light until he comes to the Lord Jesus Christ. 

I believe with all my heart there’s never been a man or woman who ever lived on the face of this earth who died without some opportunity to have received Christ, had they lived up to the light God gave them.

ACTION POINT:

Is there someone in your life that claims to be an agnostic or an atheist? Try to engage them in a conversation about creation this week.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Just Shall Live By Faith

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Is God righteous? Yes.  And how is the righteousness of God revealed? It is revealed from faith to faith. God gives you truth. You believe that truth; God gives you more truth. 

The more you obey the light, the more light you get. 

The reason some of us don’t understand the Bible any more than we do is that we haven’t been living up to the light God has already given us. It’s time we began taking God at His Word and obeying it. If we begin obeying the small things we understand, God will enlighten our path to help us understand the things we don’t understand.

ACTION POINT:

Ask God today to give you understanding into the depths of His Word so that you can begin to share His truth in greater ways with the lost around you.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Born Again, Saved For All Time

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” John 3:7

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Have you ever known anyone who was physically born twice?

Have you ever known someone who was spiritually born twice?

Nowhere in the Bible will you find a passage that describes anyone being saved twice. Once you come into the family, you’re in the family. 

Now there were times when I disappointed my parents. There were times when my father had to chastise me, but I am a Rogers. I will be a Rogers for all eternity. It’s the same way with your spiritual life. When you are born into the family of God, your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life. It is fixed. It is done.

ACTION POINT:

Do you know a brother or sister in Christ who is doubting his/her salvation?

Encourage him/her with this Good News today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Faith In Our Great God

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

How do you have faith? You look to Jesus, and faith is produced in your heart.

You don’t have to work up faith.

Suppose I needed to cross the Mississippi River and I wasn’t sure whether the bridge could hold me up or not. I could do one of two things. I could stand on the banks of the Mississippi and try to work up enough courage to make myself believe in that bridge, then timorously walk over that bridge. Or I could look at the semi-trucks traveling across the mighty steel and concrete of that bridge, believe, and boldly walk across in faith! In this case, faith is the by-product of seeing the strength of the bridge itself. In the same way, it’s not great faith in God that you need; it is faith in a great God!

ACTION POINT:

Attempt something so great in your life today that it is doomed to failure unless God is in it.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Clean Before The Lord

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

I heard of a missionary whose wife was very fastidious. They moved into a small hut, and soon she noticed that the floor was filthy. The first thing the wife wanted to do was to scrub that floor, so she scrubbed and scrubbed but to no avail. She began to wonder if she would ever get the floor clean. Finally, somebody told her the problem. It was a dirt floor! The more she scrubbed the more dirt she scrubbed up.

In the same way, we can never scrub off our sinful nature. All we do is reveal more of what is there.

I hate to tell you this, but we’re rotten to the core.

Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

ACTION POINT:

How dirty are you this morning? How clean must you be before you can talk with your heavenly Father? Claim the blood of Jesus and commune freely with your Father who loves you.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Emptiness of Loss / The Fullness of Being Spirit Filled

That horrible ache that can't be fixed!!

That deep hole of emptiness that can't be filled!!!

Deep yearning, searching out why, wanting that suffering just to end!

Loss is inevitable!

You can't escape it!

It's effects start down deep in your soul and tears out your heart until you have no rest!

We must mourn, it helps release our pain.

We must mourn with God, letting Him carry our burden.

He alone has the remedy for heartache!

Abundant peace will come!

There is no time period attached to its arrival.

Waiting is the hard part.

Search the scriptures for your peace.

But we can never loose sight of the fact that death came to us because of sin!

In the garden where the first man and woman were placed, they broke fellowship with God, our maker, in that place He prepared for us. 

Forever changing the beauty of God's plan and making God sad he created His beings.

A place of beauty prepared by a loving God for His creation, that has been forever distorted by our own actions.

All is not lost!

God made the way of escape from a doomed life of sin. 

A most miraculous way to be forgiven, your slate wiped clean, making you a new creation by the most humble gift ever possible.

Death of a spotless Lamb, humbly, willingly, graciously and with an obedience unmatched by another.

Christ, on a cross, wholly taking your sin, being briefly separated from His Father God, but rising  the third day to His everlasting kingdom.

This is why we search for good coming out of tragedy. 

This is why we know that God uses tragedy to reach the coldest heart.

9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,

10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. - Colossians 2:9-10

13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. - Colossians 2:13-14

Grace Chosen Remnant

Definition of grace:

Free unmerited favor of God

Definition of chosen:

One who is the object of divine favor

5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.

6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. - Romans 11:5-6

20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, "I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me." 

21 But of Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people." - Romans 10:20-21

8 In the whole land, declares the LORD, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive. 

9 And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'They are my people'; and they will say, 'The LORD is my God.'"  - Zechariah 13:8-9

So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. - Romans 11:11

Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen." - Acts 28:28

19 Then you will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in."

20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.

21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. - Romans 11:19-21

All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.  - Isaiah 66:2

And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. - Romans 11:23

But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. - 2 Corinthians 3:16

Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. - Romans 11:25

14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.

15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.

16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. - 2 Corinthians 3:14-18

29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

30 For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience,

31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy.

32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! - Romans 11:29-33

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. - Romans 11:36

The Miracle Of The New Birth

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Nicodemus was so impressed with the miracles Jesus had done that he wanted to find out more. He asked Jesus about miracles, and Jesus began to talk to him about births. It’s as if Jesus were saying, “Nicodemus, if you want to understand miracles, you’re going to have to become a miracle.”

Now Nicodemus was an intelligent man. He was a ruler of the Jews and a member of the Sanhedrin. Yet with all of his learning, he heard Jesus say to him, “Except you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God.” People simply can’t understand spiritual things until the Holy Spirit of God turns the light on in their souls.

ACTION POINT:

Do you know someone who has a lot of education but no salvation? I challenge you to share this same Good News with him or her today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Made White As Snow

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow . . .” Isaiah 1:18a

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

I heard of a man giving his testimony at a Salvation Army meeting. There was a heckler in the crowd shouting, “Would you shut up? You’re just dreaming!” 

The heckler felt a tug at his coattail and a little girl said, “That’s my daddy up there. He used to be a drunkard and beat up my mommy. We didn’t have enough food to eat. But then he got saved, and my daddy’s life is changed. See that woman over there? See how happy she is? That’s my mommy. Mister, if my daddy’s dreaming, don’t wake him up!”

What a Savior who can take a poor lost sinner and wash him, save him, and make him new. Hallelujah!

ACTION POINT:

When was the last time you shared Christ with a homeless person? Avail yourself and allow God to use you to shine His light in that direction.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Obedience in Tithing

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Matthew 25:21

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

A man spoke to his pastor one day and said, “I don’t know what’s wrong, but God is not real to me anymore.” The wise pastor asked, “Is there any sin in your life?” In a moment of honesty the man responded, “Years ago I was tithing regularly to God, but one day I thought, 'God doesn’t need the money as much as I do,' so I stopped.”

The pastor said, “Will God say, ‘My child has disobeyed Me. He cannot trust Me with his resources, so I think I’ll bless him with even more financial resources.’ Will God do this?”

Absolutely not. If you’re not faithful with little, He won’t bless you with any more.

ACTION POINT:

Are you faithfully tithing your income to the work of the Lord? If not, it’s time to.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Making Your Own Idol

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:3

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

What is an idol? A man takes his own ideas and puts them into the work of his hands, and then he begins to worship it. What he is really worshiping is himself.

You may say, “Well, I’m not guilty of idolatry.” Let’s just see...is there anything that you love more than God? Anything you fear more than God? Anything you serve more than God? Anything you trust more than God? Am I getting hot?

You say, “Well, I give God a place in my life.” God doesn’t want a place in your life. Then, you say, “Well, I give God prominence in my life.” God despises prominence in your life. God demands preeminence in your life. He will take nothing less.

ACTION POINT:

Is there anyone or anything in your life that takes precedence over God? Confess it and repent of it. Now, put on the throne the rightful Master—the Lord Jesus!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Life In The Spirit Through Christ Alone

So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD. - Ezekiel 38:23

What Christ offers:

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,

4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.

8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. - Romans 8:1-11

The power of the Living God

1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones.

2 And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry.

3 And he said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, you know."

4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.

5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.

6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the LORD."

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone.

8 And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them.

9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live."

10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. - Ezekiel 37:1-10

God is calling:

Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.  - Isaiah 55:3

Hope:

23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?

25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. - Romans 8:23-25

Suffering:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. - Romans 8:18

17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. - 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Future Glory:

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." - Revelation 21:3-4

Man is in sin, headed for destruction.

God sent Jesus to take away sin for all who obey and believe.

Man is without excuse.
God has provided proof in His creation of nature. 

No mortal could have made what we see everyday, moon, sun, stars, dirt, water, even what we can't see, the very air we breathe, and on and on I could go.

God is good.

Man is evil.

Man was tempted by Satan.
Man yielded to temptation because he wanted to be God.
His eyes were opened. 

God's creation and all its glory was for ever changed.

Man's sin brought death.

Christ is our hope of eternal life.

In Him we will be raised from death unto life.

Through Him and Him alone do we have redemption.

God's Everlasting Love

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.

34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died-more than that, who was raised-who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

36 As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." 

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,

39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:31-39

The Sun of Righteousness

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings. . .” Malachi 4:2a

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Since Jesus is the S-O-N of God, He is also the S-U-N of righteousness. Let me tell you something about the sunrise. The sunrise never comes ahead of time, and it is never late. Isn’t that right? The sunrise operates according to the power of God and the authority of God. You can’t hurry it up, and you can’t stop it!

It is the same with the Second Coming of Jesus. He is coming at a time known only to God. You can’t hurry it up and you can’t stop it.

One day the Lord Jesus Christ shall come with trumpet sound. He will pull back the shade of the night and pin it with a star. Then He’ll open the door of the glorious morning of His millennial reign and flood the world with light.

ACTION POINT:

Tomorrow morning, get up with the sunrise and praise God that His timing is perfect—and that He is coming again!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Honoring Our Parents Always

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” Exodus 20:12

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Whether you are young or old, you can honor your parents. How? By showing respect. Leviticus 19:3 says, “Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.” Now that word “fear” doesn’t mean to quake in the presence of your parents. That is, you are to have a holy respect for your father and your mother.

You may say, “But my parents are not worthy of respect.” With all due respect, you aren’t either. None of us are worthy. Only perfect children can demand perfect parents, and no children are perfect. Our parents are imperfect. We are imperfect. But God is holy, and He says that we are to respect our parents.

ACTION POINT:

What’s your relationship like with your parents? If you’ve been showing less than the type of biblical respect God requires, then begin today to turn that around for His glory!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Don’t Be a Flabby Christian

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

I’m amazed at the little bit it takes to stop some Christians from accomplishing the tasks the Father has given them to do. This thing of being a Christian is not a Sunday afternoon stroll! Shining God’s light in a dark world is a full time job. 

We must pray over it, weep over it, and study over it to show ourselves approved. Most of us in America get up on Sunday mornings and sit in an air-conditioned church with beautiful stained glass windows in streamlined comfort. The truth is…we’re flabby, undisciplined, and exhibit no determination. 

Friend, God does business with those who mean business.

ACTION POINT:

Do you mean business in this Christian life? Then begin something today for the building up of God’s Kingdom to the glory of God.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

One Plus One Equals One

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Matthew 19:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Do you know what’s wrong with many marriages? Husbands treat their wives like a new car. When it’s new, he shows it off; and then when it gets old and the paint fades a little bit, he trades her in for a new model. 

Are you a married man? Then you are to satisfy her needs and share your life with her. That means all that you are and all that you have is for her! God’s arithmetic is one plus one equals one! There’s no part of our lives that we do not share. 

Are you the strong, independent type? Then you’re not like Jesus, who shared unconditionally and sacrificially with you.

ACTION POINT:

This week, make it a priority to give something sacrificially to your wife. It may be your time. It may be a possession. It may be a word of encouragement that she needs.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Thankful In Trials

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people.” 1 Chronicles 16:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

If you are a child of God, you ought to be able to thank God every moment of every day no matter what happens to you.

Have you ever stopped to thank God for the water that you drink? Did you know that in some countries in the world, the majority of the population doesn’t have reasonably pure drinking water? Millions of people die annually just from water-related diseases.

If you wear a hearing aid, do you ever thank God for that? Some people wish they had a hearing aid.

If you are a student in the midst of final exams, do you thank God that you have an exam to take? There are many who wish they could afford college.

Do you thank God for your next breath?

ACTION POINT:

Take whatever it is that looks like a trial in your life today and thank God for it! Thank Him every time the thought enters your mind to grumble or complain.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

A "Know-So" or a "Hope-So" Salvation?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

If you think you’re going to get to heaven by your good works, I guarantee you will always wonder if you’ve done enough. You will not have a “know-so” salvation. You will have a “hope-so” salvation. Rather than standing up straight in confidence like an exclamation point, you will be bent over and wondering like a question mark. That is, until you understand that it’s all by grace.

Suppose everybody who wanted to be saved had to run around the block. Some can’t run. What if you had to read a chapter in the Bible to be saved? Some can’t read. But there is one thing that can make the promise sure, and that is grace.

ACTION POINT:

Who can you share this Good News with today? Think of at least one person, and ask God to give you a bold love and a divine opportunity to do just that. We also invite you to read “You Can Be Sure” for more insights on the eternal security of the believer. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Inclining Our Ears To Hear

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Several years ago, the investment firm of E. F. Hutton had a slogan: “When E. F. Hutton talks, people listen.” If only people had this respect and reverence for God and His Word! That is the kind of ear we ought to have for the matchless Word of the living God. 

If you do not incline your ear, you might miss something! It has been said that God will not only hold us accountable for what we hear but also for what we would have heard if we had listened.

ACTION POINT:

Do you take notes when your pastor teaches? Maybe it’s time you started. It’s a great tool for those teachable moments during the week with your friends and family. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Taming the Tongue

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” Proverbs 10:19

 

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Your tongue can get you into a lot of trouble. There is nothing that can do more damage to your relationships than your words.

 

Proverbs 17:27 says, “He that hath knowledge spareth his words.” That is, if you’re smart, you won’t talk so much. When you do talk, keep your words warm and sweet because you may have to eat them later.

 

There’s an old saying I heard a Rabbi use once that reminds us:

 “The ears are open and out. They’re unguarded, but the tongue is behind ivory bars.”

When you’re talking, you’re not learning.

When you’re not learning, you’re not communicating.

When you’re not communicating, there will be no intimacy in your relationships.

ACTION POINT:

In what ways has your mouth gotten you into trouble this week? Confess those times before the Lord and ask for strength and wisdom to be a better communicator.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

God's Plan For The Man

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” Gen. 2:15

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
God gave women a nurturing instinct, but God gave men a different gift and task—to dress the garden. God equipped men with a hard exterior to be the providers and protectors, and because of this, men want to be admired by women. I want to be admired by my wife. I get more blessing when she admires me and says, “You are wonderful,” and she gets a blessing when I am romantic, loving, and tender toward her. 

1 Peter 3:7 says, “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with [your wives] according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”

ACTION POINT:
How can you show your wife a little tender loving care today? Now that you’ve thought of something, go do it! 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

True Beauty

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“. . . even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” 1 Peter 3:4b

 

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Are you a woman struggling with the way you look? We all know that women want to be beautiful, especially to their husbands and boyfriends, but so often women think that beauty is found at a cosmetics counter, on a dress rack, or in a jewelry box. Those things are corruptible, and what’s in vogue today is out of fashion when next year’s supermodels hit the runway.

 

The only thing that will make you more beautiful, day after day, is what you nurture within yourself - serenity.

 

The ornament of a meek and a quiet spirit is worth far more than even the most expensive jewel you can wear around your neck.

 

ACTION POINT:

Stand in front of the mirror today. Imagine Jesus by your side, and ask Him to create in you a gentle and quiet spirit of love.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Let Patience Have Its Perfect Work in You

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“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 1:3-4

  

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The trying of your faith is going to develop patience in you. And the Amplified Bible says, “Let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed in your faith, lacking in nothing.” When was the last time you asked God to make you perfect? Maybe you should have asked for patience as well, because it is only through patient, abiding faith and trust in the Lord that we become “perfect.”

 

Now, a lot of people confuse this word “perfect” with “sinless.” The Greek word for perfect in James 1:4 is teleios—it refers to a maturing growth. For example, an oak tree is the teleios of an acorn. It is the “perfection” of an acorn, which has now come to maturity.

 

So when you are discouraged and feeling a little blue,

Take a look at a mighty oak and see what a nut can do.

  

ACTION POINT:

Take a walk this week enjoying the beauty of God’s creation and ask Him to give you the patience and faith that can turn a little acorn into a mighty oak.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Greatest Event Of All Ages

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“. . . and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” Rev.17:14
 
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
The Second Coming of Jesus is going to be the greatest event of all of the ages. It is one of the grand theological truths taught in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

• The New Birth is vitally important, but it is mentioned only nine times in the New Testament.
• Baptism is vitally important, but it is mentioned only 20 times in the New Testament.
• Repentance is mentioned only 70 times in the Bible, as important and needful as that is.
• But the return of the Lord Jesus Christ is mentioned in God’s Word at least 380 times.
• One out of every 25 verses points with an eager finger to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 
ACTION POINT:
How are you getting ready for His Second Coming? What if He came this very hour?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Humbly Grateful, Not Grumbly Hateful

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.James 1:2

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Sometimes we have to admit that it’s hard to “count it all joy.” Sometimes we complain and rather than being humbly grateful, we become grumbly hateful.
 
Oh, how I wish that, beginning today, we would emulate the faith of the saints that have gone before us—saints like Fannie Crosby, the great hymn writer.
 
For most of her life Fannie Crosby was blind, and yet, at the tender age of eight, Fannie wrote:
 
“Oh! What a happy soul am I, although I cannot see,
I am resolved that, in this world, contented I will be.
How many blessings I enjoy, that other people don’t.
To weep and sigh because I’m blind, I cannot and I won’t.”
 
And do you know what? .... She didn’t.
 
ACTION POINT:

• How can you apply this truth to your life today?
• How can you share this truth with someone else?

LWF Dr.Adrian Rogers 

The Testing Of Your Faith

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.” 1 Peter 4:12
 
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Has something bad happened to you and you said, “Oh me. What did I do? I must have done something terrible. Otherwise, this wouldn’t have happened!”
 
And before you knew it, you fell headlong into a pity party of morbid introspection—taking yourself apart piece by piece to see where you went wrong. If you’re like most people, you have.
 
But have you ever thought that maybe you’ve done absolutely nothing wrong, but God is simply testing your faith? This is an important truth for you to understand, because if you don’t, you may get discouraged. The seeds of doubt and discouragement sprout in the soil of ignorance.
 
ACTION POINT:
Read Exodus 16 about the testing of the Lord in the lives of the Israelites while they were wandering in the desert. What applications can you give to your life?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Facing Temptation

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

When you face temptation, remember it is not a sin to be tempted. Temptation to sin is not sin.

If temptation were a sin, then Jesus would be a sinner, because Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

Jesus was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin. Jesus felt what you feel. He was just as much a man as though He were not God at all, and He was as much God as though He were not man at all. He was the God-Man, and praise God, Jesus never sinned though He knew those temptations.

ACTION POINT:

Are you facing a temptation today that you feel no one has ever faced? Turn to Jesus and He will meet you there.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers