No Duplex for a Throne

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?’” MATTHEW 16:24-26

 

PONDER THIS

There can be no other king in your life. No man can serve two masters. Jesus will not be a moonlighting King, a part-time King with a duplex for a throne. It has been said well, “He must be Lord of all if He is to be Lord at all.”

What a person does with his or her possessions is a good mark as to whether Jesus Christ is Lord of that person’s life. He is Lord of all. He doesn’t just own 10 percent; He owns everything you have! When you give what God has laid on your heart, that’s only a tangible expression of the fact that He owns it all.

You’re saying, “Lord, this gift is a tangible, visible expression of my total surrender to You. This gift represents my brains, my blood, my ability, my time, and my intellect. That’s what it took to get this. And when I return this to You, it only illustrates that it all belongs to You, and that I am Your steward.”

What are the areas it is hard for you to surrender to God? Why?

What are some steps you can take to express further surrender to God?

PRACTICE THIS

Express your total surrender to God in everything you do, say, and give today.

 

 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

On Your Face, Without Fear

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.” REVELATION 1:1-3

 

PONDER THIS

When you truly see the Lord Jesus, when you truly worship Him as He is described here in the Book of Revelation, it will bring your full submission. When the Apostle John fell before Him prostrate, it was a sign that He is Lord, not man. Have you surrendered everything to Him? When you learn how to worship the Lord Jesus Christ, not only will it bring your submission, not only will it cause your reverence, but it will also give you a great assurance. As John was on his face, Jesus said, “Do not be afraid.”

The fear of God is love on its knees. We must have right reverence. The person who truly worships the Lord won’t be afraid of much else. After John fell on his face, the Lord gave John a commission, following that time of worship. We can do more than worship after we’ve worshiped, but we can really do no more than worship until we’ve worshiped.

When is the last time you wholeheartedly worshiped and surrendered to God?

How can you make wholehearted worship a priority in your life? What is the impact when you do?

PRACTICE THIS

Worship God, seeking full surrender to Him.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Turn Over the Reins

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” JAMES 4:7

 

PONDER THIS

One time, I was driving down the road and I saw a drunk person staggering along in disgrace. I recognized him and stopped the car. He got in and I drove him home. His dad and mother were there, and they took him in and got him to bed. I started to leave, but the dad stopped me. He said, “Pastor, I'm embarrassed, but my son is not the only drunk in the family. I'm a drunk too. I don't know what to say to this boy when I’m a hypocrite.” I asked, “Why don't you quit drinking?” He said, “Pastor, you probably won't believe this, but I hate liquor. I just can't stop.”

I said, “Imagine you were driving a team of wild horses that were getting away from you and you were afraid for your life, but you couldn't make them stop. But sitting next to you in the wagon was someone you knew could control them. What would you do?” He said, “Pastor, that's easy. I'd just turn the reins over to him.” And I said, “That's the only thing I know for you to do. Just say, ‘Lord Jesus, I can't.’ Quit trying and start trusting. Simply turn the reins over to Him because those horses are wild and there is only One who can contain them. He does not want to let them run wild, He does not want to cripple them, but he wants to cultivate that strength under control for His purposes.

When in your life have things felt out of control? How did you try to fix the situation? How might you have turned “the reins” over to Christ?

Why do we try to fix problems ourselves before giving them to Christ? What is wrong with that? What happens when we try to fix life on our own?

PRACTICE THIS

Talk to someone about where you need to hand over the reins of your life to God. Ask your friend to pray for you as you surrender to Christ.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

From Commitment to Surrender

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

MATTHEW 6:10

 

PONDER THIS

I was in Romania talking with my translator, Pastor Joseph, and said, “You’ve been to America many times. Tell me about American Christianity.” He said, “The key word in American Christianity is commitment. Commitment is a relatively new word in the United States. It can be found in some dictionaries, but it came into usage in the 60s and American Christians have gotten stronger and stronger in using the word commitment.” I asked, “What’s wrong with commitment?” He said, “When a new word comes in, it always replaces an old word. I searched to find the old word that commitment has replaced. The old word is surrender.”

In commitment, you decide what you’re going to do and commit yourself to it. When you surrender, you lift both hands and say, “I’m under Your control.” Do you see the difference? In commitment, you’re in control. In surrender, God’s in control. He is the King and He is supreme. We simply say, “Your kingdom come; Your will be done. I am under your control.”

What are some ways you have sought control? What are some things you need to surrender to God?

What does it look like to live in daily surrender to God?

PRACTICE THIS

Talk to a mentor in the faith and ask that person how he or she seeks a life of surrender to God.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Encountering Jesus

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.”

ACTS 4:13-14

 

PONDER THIS

How were these fishermen able to stand up to preach and five thousand come to Christ? It’s because Jesus lives, and they were not dependent on their own power of oratory or of logic to bring these people to Christ. There was a living Christ inside of them. Anything I can talk you into, somebody else can talk you out of. We are not preaching facts about a dead Christ of history; we present a living Christ. If eleven apostles who had seen Him with their own eyes could not convince Thomas of the resurrection, I’ll not be able to convince you. Do you know what convinced Thomas? He had an encounter with the living Lord. And when he had an encounter with the living Christ, he was convinced.

Do you know what you need today? An encounter with Jesus Christ. Not with the church, not with a pastor, not with a choir. You need to meet the living Christ. These people were brought into contact with the living Christ, and they were totally, absolutely changed.

When did you first encounter Jesus? How did it change you?

Who is someone you could share the Gospel with? Can you surrender your own efforts and depend on the Holy Spirit to help you do that?

PRACTICE THIS

Pray and surrender to God, asking Him to allow you to see how He is alive and at work in your life.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

More than a Pardon

“But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.” ROMANS 4:5

 

PONDER THIS

What is justification? Justification is an act of God through which He declares those who’ve received Jesus Christ righteous. It doesn’t mean they’ve earned righteousness; Jesus is the only One who has earned righteousness. It means that righteousness has been given to God’s people, apart from anything that they have done to deserve it. Your faith is counted for righteousness.

Now justification is more than a pardon for your sins. Justification is more than an acquittal. If you went into a court and the courtroom said, “You’re guilty but we pardon you,” that wouldn’t be justification. Or if the courtroom said, “You are acquitted,” that means you never were guilty to begin with. Justification means that you are not only pardoned but that God now, by a forensic act of His love and divine righteousness, declares you righteous apart from works of any kind—not because you’ve been good, not because you’ve kept the Ten Commandments, not because you’ve gotten baptized but because you have trusted in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. So many people endlessly endeavor to try to be good. They look to do good things so God will like them. God loves you—that is not the question. He sent His only Son because He loves you. The question is, do you trust that He can make you right with Him? Do you trust Him to make you whole again or are you trying to solve that problem yourself?

What are some good things people do to try to gain God’s favor? When have you done some of those things?

What happens when we try to do good for God’s favor? What is harmful about that?

PRACTICE THIS

Confess when you have tried to do good things for God’s pardon. Surrender and thank Him for justification through Jesus.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

You Can Bank on It

“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.”

EPHESIANS 1:11-12

 

PONDER THIS

Why does God want us to be conformed to the image of His Son? When God created Adam and Eve, He created them in His image, to know, worship, and fellowship with Him. After that image was marred, Jesus came to Earth and endured the cross to restore that image. He does this by regeneration when we’re saved and receive the Holy Spirit. And then He does it by sanctification, as we’re being made more like the Lord Jesus Christ. Then, one day, when Jesus comes in glorification, we will be made just like Him fully.

Do you want to know how you’re doing in your Christian life? Are you becoming more like Jesus? That’s it. Not, are you becoming a better Baptist? Not, are you happy? The question is, are you having God’s purpose being fulfilled in you by becoming more like Jesus? God is not primarily concerned about making you healthy, wealthy, or popular. God’s plan is that you be more like the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, if these other blessings of health and wealth come, thank God, and serve Him with it but that’s not His purpose for you. Many worry, “What if God’s purpose in me is not fulfilled?” It will be fulfilled. Bank on it. You are made to look like Jesus. Just let Him work on your heart and be open to His change in you.

Where are some places you do not look like Jesus? How can you surrender those areas to God and invite Him to make you more like Jesus?

Who are some people who keep you accountable for pursuing growth in Jesus? How willing are you to accept their feedback and honesty?

PRACTICE THIS

Ask a trusted brother or sister how he or she sees you reflecting Christ and also about areas where you need growth. Ask your friend to pray with you for that change to take place.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Looking at Life Through a Knothole

“. . . just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” EPHESIANS 1:4-5

 

PONDER THIS

Scripture talks about God having foreknowledge, but sometimes we get confused about that idea because we’re looking at it from a human vantage point. Can you imagine a little boy watching a parade through a knothole? He can’t get over the fence to see the parade, so he watches the parade pass from this limited perspective. But then suppose somebody takes the little guy and says, “Come, son, into my office building up here, and we’ll look over the wall from ten stories.” The little guy can see the parade as it’s forming down here. He can see it as it’s dispersing down here, and he can see everything in between because he has a different vantage point.

We are limited. We’re looking at life through a knothole. Do you understand that? The events pass by, and we experience the waves of emotions as they occur. But God sees it all. God inhabits eternity. God sees the beginning, the middle, and the end. God sees it all at one time.

The reason we often get confused is we try to put God in a box. God is God. We can only see how He works by looking through the knothole. We don’t see as He does, from eternity.

Have you recognized you have a limited perspective compared with God?

How does God’s understanding of eternity help you trust Him? What are some things you don’t understand about God that you need to surrender to Him?

PRACTICE THIS

Talk to a mentor or trusted friend about the questions you have about God and ask him or her to pray with you for greater trust in Him.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Rock Builders vs. Sand Builders

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.”

MATTHEW 7:24-25

 

PONDER THIS

There are two things necessary for a firm foundation: hearing and heeding the Word of God. That’s where we begin to separate the rock builders from the sand builders.

Suppose the devil were to ask to join your church. Someone sits down with him and asks, “Mr. Devil, we want to know if you are orthodox or not. Do you believe in one God? Do you believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God? Do you believe He was born of a virgin? Do you believe He died on the cross? Do you believe He walked out of the grave?” He would answer all those things correctly, saying yes to each one.

They might then ask how he feels called to serve. I imagine he’d be glad to do anything you ask. He’ll be an usher. He’ll sing in the choir if you want him to. He’ll be glad to preach. He’ll be glad to get into that organization and work.

But there should be one final question. “Are you willing to bow your knee to the lordship of Jesus Christ?” And he will not do that. Many people think just because they give a mental assent to the facts of the Gospel and just because they are working in the church in some way, they are going to Heaven. But they have no more faith than the devil himself because they have never surrendered to the lordship of Jesus Christ.

What does it look like to live out your faith? What does it look like to ascent to the facts but refuse to bow to the Lordship of Jesus?

Where is it difficult for you to surrender to Christ’s lordship? How can you submit this area of your life to Him?

PRACTICE THIS

Ask a trusted friend how he or she has seen you live out your faith and ask for honest feedback on where that person has seen you struggle to live out the Word.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Where Does Self-Centeredness Lead?

“‘How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.” Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.’”

ISAIAH 14:12-15

 

PONDER THIS

What is self-centeredness? At its core it is pride. Do you know what made the devil the devil? Self-centeredness. What do you see in this passage about the enemy? Over and over again he says, “I will.” What did Jesus teach us to pray? “…not my will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). What did Satan say? “Not Your will, but mine, be done.” How do you think Satan got Eve to take of the forbidden fruit? He appealed to her pride. He said, “You can be like God.” What causes unbelief in the Word of God? Pride. What made the devil the devil? Pride.

If you want what is real, you go to the Word of God; you lay your intellectual pride in the dust; and you call out to Jesus for mercy. Pride may be satisfying for a little while, but the fruit of self-centeredness is bitterness and bondage.

Did you know why so many of us have trouble? Because we are bitter and in bondage. So many of us have met religion but have never met Jesus. We may have surrendered one area of our lives to Him, but we have not given Him our all. We are not lying broken at the foot of the cross daily. We are not constantly leaving our pride in the dust. The Spirit of God is not in these people, and they are troublemakers everywhere they go because their religion has never satisfied them, and it never can.

What areas of your life have you not surrendered to God?

What would it look like to surrender those areas to God?

PRACTICE THIS

Think about where you wrestle with pride the most, pray about it, and write down some ways you can acknowledge God in those areas.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Are You Fully Surrendered?

“And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” ACTS 4:31

 

PONDER THIS

Are you a slave of the Lord Jesus Christ? I try to make it a habit every day to lift my hands in surrender to the Lord. To say to the Lord, “I am Your servant.” I am not just a servant, though, I am a slave of the Lord Jesus Christ. Boldness is not for rebels. You will never have boldness, true boldness, until you can say, “Now, Lord, grant to Your bondservant, to Your slave, boldness.”

When you do that, the Holy Spirit of God will give you courage. He will be the One who works in you and gives you courage. It is not something you can do on your own. You have to depend on God to give you courage. If there’s any unconfessed sin in your life, any area you’ve not surrendered to Him, then you’re not going to have boldness. That sin, that area of your life is a barrier.

A person who is hiding sin from God is always wondering, “Do they know this? Have they heard that? Will I be discovered here?” That is a life of fear and anxiety. Peace and great adventure are ahead when you can wake up and say, “There’s nothing between my soul and the Savior. Lord, I am Your servant. I am Your slave. Jesus is with me. God the Father is above me. Holy Spirit of God, You’re within me. Grant boldness to declare Your Word.”

Is there something in your life you have not surrendered to God? What entices you to hold onto that sin?

Have you ever asked God to give you boldness? Why or why not?

PRACTICE THIS

Surrender to God as His servant and ask Him to equip you with boldness.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Surrender to Be Used by God

PRAY OVER THIS

“Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, ‘Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go near and overtake this chariot.’”

Acts 8:26-29

 

PONDER THIS

Sometimes people ask, "Why doesn't God use me?" It may be that you’re not making yourself useable. God never leaves a surrendered vessel unfilled. And God never leaves a filled vessel unused. If you surrender yourself, He’ll fill you with the Holy Spirit. God can’t fill that which is already filled. You’ve got to empty out yourself, your ambition, your pride, and your sin and say, “Lord, fill me.” He will, and what God fills, He uses.

God has a plan for you, just as he had a plan for Philip so long ago. Philip was an ordinary person God used in an extraordinary way. God’s ways are often unknown. Phillip had no way of knowing he was going to be used of God to witness to a very important and strategic man. All he knew was God had spoken and said, “Go south to Gaza.” Philip followed God by taking the next step that was in front of him, and it had major impact. You have no way of knowing how God is going to use you. Surrender to Him and He will give you the next step.

Do you desire for God to use you? Why or why not?

What are some other examples from Scripture of those who were used by God? How can you relate to their stories?

PRACTICE THIS

Surrender to God in prayer, asking Him to use you.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Are You Fully Surrendered?

PRAY OVER THIS

“‘Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.’ And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” Acts 4:29-31

 

PONDER THIS

Every now and then, I’ll come behind a car and it’ll have a bumper sticker that says, “God is my copilot.” Some people treat God like a business partner, but He’s not—He is Lord. Many times, we want to use God, but God’s not going to be used. You want God to answer your prayers? Then submit yourself to Him completely as Lord.

These people were committed to Him. They wanted God to give them power to express His Word. They prayed, “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word” (Acts 4:29). Is that the desire of your heart, to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to obey the Great Commission?

It was the expression of God’s Word that got them in trouble to begin with. They didn’t ask, “Lord, move us to more favorable circumstances.” They didn’t say, “Lord, keep us safe.” They prayed, “Lord, give us more of what got us into trouble in the first place. Lord, we’re in trouble for preaching Your Word. Now, give us boldness to preach it some more. We want to proclaim Your Word.”

What is the difference between Jesus being Lord and being a business partner?

How have you submitted and committed your ways to the Lord? What has changed? What needs to change for you?

PRACTICE THIS

Pray with other Christians, asking God to use you to spread the Gospel.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Do You Have the Power to Limit God?

PRAY OVER THIS

“How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, and grieved Him in the desert! Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember His power: the day when He redeemed them from the enemy, when he worked His signs in Egypt, and His wonders in the field of Zoan; turned their rivers into blood, and their streams, that they could not drink.”’ Psalm 78:40-44

 

PONDER THIS

How often did the children of God provoke Him in the wilderness and grieve Him in the desert? It was often! But that’s not the only thing they did. Verse 41 says, they limited the Holy One of Israel. Do you know what the word limited literally means? It means they put a circle or a horizon around God. They said, now God you stay in that circle and don’t get out. There are certain areas, God, where You are off limits; You are out of bounds. They made no room for God in certain areas of life.

This was their thinking: “We’re going to be neutral about God. We’re not going to be for God; we’re not going to be against God.” That is limiting God and not allowing Him to work in all areas of life. Do you know what that's like? It is like saying we’re going to be neutral about food, so since we’re neutral about food, nobody will eat. It’s nonsensical. They drew a boundary around God, and it was to their demise.

What is an area of your life you struggle to give fully to God?

What is the danger of trying to contain God based on our standards?

PRACTICE THIS

Seek God’s help in surrendering your entire life before Him.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Surrender Comes Before Peace

PRAY OVER THIS

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2

 

PONDER THIS

Peace is a right relationship with God that leads to right relationship with self and guides us in a right relationship with other people.

Righteousness and peace are linked together. Sin separates men from God. Sin brings inner turmoil, and it separates men from men. Admiral Nelson won a sea battle, and there was a French admiral surrendering to Lord Nelson. The French admiral came and approached Lord Nelson on the deck of a ship with all his gear and armor. And that admiral put out his hand to Lord Nelson to surrender, but Lord Nelson just stepped back and said, “Your sword first.”

There are a lot of people who just think they can walk up and glad-hand the Lord Jesus Christ, but He says, “Your sword first.” Surrender first. Jesus is not an appeaser, and He will never make a truce with sin. There can never be peace without first a surrender to the lordship of Jesus Christ.

Where do you need to surrender to Jesus to pursue peace?

Where are you prone to want to deal with sin apart from admitting guilt? Why doesn’t his work?

PRACTICE THIS

Praise God for making peace possible through Jesus.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Are You Relying on Your Own Strength?

PRAY OVER THIS

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” James 3:13-17

 

PONDER THIS

I was driving down the road one day, and I saw a drunk man staggering along in disgrace. I recognized him, so I stopped the car and I said “Son, get in.” He got in and I drove him home. His dad and his mother were embarrassed. I started to leave, and the dad stopped me. He said “My son is not the only drunk in the family. I’m a drunk too. I’d be such a hypocrite to tell him not to drink because I’m a drunkard.” I said, “Why don’t you quit drinking?” He said, “I just don’t have what it takes.”

My heart broke for him. I said, “Imagine you were driving a team of wild horses, but they were getting away from you. You couldn’t make them stop and you couldn’t rein them in, but sitting next to you there in the wagon was someone you knew could control them. What would you do?” He responded, “That’s easy. I’d just turn the reigns over to him.” And I said, “That’s the only thing for you to do. Simply say, ‘Lord Jesus, I can’t.’”

Quit trying and start trusting. Simply turn the reins over to Him because there is only One who can contain those wild horses. He does not want to let them run wild, and He does not want to cripple them, but He will put that strength under His control and direction.

What is one thing you have struggled to put under God’s control?

Why do you think we often rely on our own strength to get things done instead of God’s?

PRACTICE THIS

Pray and surrender to God something you have been trying to use your own strength to solve.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

No One is Too Small for God to Use

PRAY OVER THIS

“One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, ‘There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?’ Then Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.” John 6:8-11

 

PONDER THIS

There is no person too small for Jesus to use. When Jesus solves problems, He uses people. He used a little boy and a little lunch. He had two small fish and five loaves of barley bread. Barley was the cheapest, coarsest, and poorest quality of bread. But Jesus took this meager lunch, blessed it, and fed the multitude. What was the recipe for this miracle?

First, it was given freely to Jesus. He didn’t say, “Now, Lord Jesus, you can have one of these fish and I’ll keep the other. He gave it all to Jesus Christ. Do you want to be used of God? You may say yes. But have you given Him everything? Do you think this little lad went away hungry? He had more to eat than if he had not given Jesus anything. When he gave it all to Jesus, Jesus gave back to him. You may be too big for God to use, but you’ll never be too small for God to use. God uses small people and small things. There’s no problem too big for Jesus to solve. There’s no person too small for Jesus to use.

What are some things that make you feel too small for God to use?

What would it look like for you to give everything to God? What would be difficult to surrender?

PRACTICE THIS

Send an encouraging note to someone who may feel small in his or her faith. Remind your friend of the hope that no person is too small for Jesus to use.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Experience Joy Through Surrender

PRAY OVER THIS

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5

 

PONDER THIS

A branch exists for one reason: the vine. It makes a full surrender to the vine. You say, “But, Pastor, I’ve got a family; I’ve got a job; I’ve got this; and I’ve got that. How can I just have one issue?” Well, you must totally, completely abide in the vine. If you don’t do that, you’re not going to have joy. And how do you abide? Full surrender. Have you ever made a full surrender?

Imagine a human being could have a conversation with a branch. The branch would say to the human being, “Now, you human beings think you’re so intelligent, but you always seem frustrated to me, rushing around, knocking things over; no rest, no peace.” And the man says to the branch, “Well, you seem to have peace. How do you do it?” He says, “I’ve reduced all my concerns to one and that is to abide in the vine. And once I do that, worry has to go. When summertime comes and I need a drink of water, I don’t worry about where it comes from. That’s the vine’s business. I abide in the vine, and the vine puts his roots down into the soil and brings up that moisture for my wilted leaves. And then in springtime when I need buds, I don’t worry about where those buds are going to come from. I abide in the vine. And when the time of vintage and harvest comes, I don’t worry about the grapes: how big, how few, how sweet. It’s none of my business. I don’t produce the fruit.” You will have joy when you abide in the vine.

What does it look like to abide in Jesus?

How has abiding in Jesus impacted your life?

PRACTICE THIS

Through prayer, surrender anything you have been wrestling with to God and abide in Him.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Do You Daily Surrender to God?

PRAY OVER THIS

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

 

PONDER THIS

I start my day by lifting my hands to God and saying, “God, I thank You for Jesus. Jesus, thank You that You gave Yourself for me.” That is saving blood. Then I lift my hands and I say, “Thank You, Jesus, that You gave Yourself to me!” That is the shared blood. Then I lift my hands in surrender, and I say, “Now, Lord, live Your life through me. I am Yours today.” He didn’t just forgive me and say, “Okay, Adrian, it’s up to you.” He gave Himself for us so that He might give Himself to us so that He might live His life through us.

Just as you survive by the blood flowing in your body right now, the blood of Jesus Christ, the life of God, flows through His Church. It is the blood that cleanses. It hasn’t just cleansed; it continually cleanses us each day.

When have you tried to live life on your own terms? What was that like?

How do you remind yourself to daily surrender to Christ?

PRACTICE THIS

Find a way like the one described today to remind yourself of God’s purpose through you every morning.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Have You Received God’s Grace?

PRAY OVER THIS

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8

 

PONDER THIS

When I was a young Christian, I would often fail. The same old words sometimes would come out of my mouth. That fiery temper would come back. There was a battle going on that lasted about two years.

During those two years, I began to listen, and the grace of God began to teach me some things. On a walk one night I prayed, “Oh, God, I’m so miserable. I don’t know whether I’m lost and the Holy Spirit has me under conviction, or I’m saved and the devil’s trying to make me doubt it.” Have you ever been there? I continued, “I just don’t have peace, God, and I want to get it settled tonight. You remember when I went forward in that church, and I was sincere, but God, I’ve been riding a roller coaster up and down and I want it stopped. With every fiber of my being, I trust you to save me. I’m not depending on myself. I don’t look for a sign, and I don’t ask for a feeling; I stand on Your Word. You died for me; You paid my sin debt. I receive You now once and for all as my Lord and Savior.” After that prayer, a river of peace began to flow in my heart, and it’s still flowing. What made that possible? It was the grace of God that brings salvation.

What are some things you’ve needed to surrender to God even after becoming a Christian?

How has God’s grace transformed your life?

PRACTICE THIS

Share with someone about how God’s grace transformed something in your life.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers