Burning Brightly for the Glory of God

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush.” Exodus 3:2

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Major Ian Thomas has imagined Moses saying something like this when he encountered God in the burning bush, “Would you look at that bush? It just keeps on burning for God. I wish my life could burn for God like that and keep on burning.” Then Major Thomas imagined God replying, “Moses, you think this bush is so wonderful? Do you see that bush over there? I could do the same thing with it. Moses, it’s not the bush—it’s God in the bush. Any old bush will do.”

It’s not you! It’s not me! We are only the vessels of God’s anointing. As you surrender yourself to God today, He will fill you and use you for His glory.

ACTION POINT:

Surrender yourself to God today. And as you do, He will use you. Allow His flame to burn brightly for all to see.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

He Alone Is Worthy

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.” Revelation 5:12

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

There’s an interesting story about how a gifted violinist named Fritz Kreisler acquired a Stradivarius violin. Kreisler heard about the violin owned by an old Englishman and offered to buy it, but the old man said it wasn’t for sale. One day Kreisler ventured to the old man’s house and said, “If I can’t buy it, may I touch it?” The old Englishman invited him in and even allowed him to begin making music with it. Great tears welled up in the old Englishman’s eyes and he said, “It is not for sale, but it is yours. You are the Master and alone are worthy of it!” 

That is what worship is all about. God is the Master and He alone is worthy.

ACTION POINT:

Starting with the letter “A” and going through the alphabet, praise Him for all that He is, has been, and will be!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Blessed Hope of His Glorious Appearing

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Each time I have walked the shores of the Sea of Galilee, I’ve longed to see Jesus walking there. I would love to see Him walk on the water—planting His footsteps on the sea with the wind in His hair and His garments flowing. I think I’d be a better preacher had I seen Him dying in agony and blood, and to have experienced that Easter morning. 

Wouldn’t it have been wonderful to see Him ascend into the glory! 

I didn’t see Him any of those times, but I’m going to see Him. And you’re going to see Him! There’s a blessed hope awaiting us as God’s children. When He returns, He’s not coming as the carpenter, He’s coming as the conqueror!

ACTION POINT:

Thank God for this Good News right now. And ask Him to bring you someone today with whom you can share this particularly Good News of Christ’s return!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

IN THE BEGINNING

Genesis 1:26-31
26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
29 And God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.
30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so.
31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Matthew 4:18-22
18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
19 And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.
22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

In the Beginning of the Old Testament…
The purpose of our lives…
We have been created to enjoy God’s grace in a relationship
with Him.
We have been created to extend God’s glory to the ends of
the earth.
The problem in our lives…
We have rebelled against God’s authority.
The promise for our lives…
God will send a Redeemer to us.
We can be reconciled to Him.
In the Beginning of the New Testament…
We have been called to be disciples of Jesus.
To turn from our sin and ourselves.
To trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord.
We have been commissioned to make disciples of Jesus.
To proclaim God’s grace for others’ salvation in Christ.
To spread God’s glory through the multiplication of the church.
In the Beginning of 2014…
How will I fill my mind with truth?
How will I read God’s Word?
How will I memorize God’s Word?
How will I learn God’s Word from others?
How will I fuel my affections for God?
How will I worship?
How will I pray?
How will I fast?
How will I give?
How will I share God’s love as a witness in the world?
Who?
How?
When?
How will I show God’s love as a member of the church?
Where?
What?
How will I spread God’s glory among all peoples?
How will I pray for the nations?
How will I give to the nations?
How will I go to the nations?
How will I make disciple makers among a few people?
How will I bring them in?
How will I model obedience?
How will I send them out?

Thanks Pastor David!

The Light of God’s countenance

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “Lord, lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us.” Psalm 4:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

How easy it is to be deceived when we are not walking in the light of God’s Word. 

Charles Lindbergh tells about the time he was flying in a dense fog over Newfoundland. He noticed moisture beginning to freeze on the wings of his plane and thought, “This great adventure is going to come to an untimely end. What shall I do?” Then, he had a moment of inspiration. He pulled his plane up and out of the fog and burst into the dazzling sunlight. 

Have you ever felt like you were living in a fog?  Friend, He has a word of encouragement for you. You can get near to the heart of God. His light can shine even in the darkest corner of your heart.

ACTION POINT:

Ask God to shine His light into the darkness of your heart. Ask Him to reveal your doubts and fears. Ask Him to reveal your sin that lies covetously in your heart. Then get ready for a blessing. Draw up close, because when you repent, He’ll reach in with healing forgiveness.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Finding Your Contentment in Jesus

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “…and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, ‘I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.’” Hebrews 13:5-6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

As you face the new year, find your contentment in Jesus, your companionship in Jesus, and your confidence in Jesus. Then you’ll find your comfort and your courage in Jesus. 

When you are contented in Jesus and He is closer to you than any one on earth could possibly be; when you are confident in the midst of trials and testing that He will provide…then, and only then, will you know the courage that comes from His comforting presence.

ACTION POINT:

Pray, “Lord, with all my heart, with all I am, I want to know you. I want our relationship to be close and my faith to grow. Cleanse me and make me new that I may be all that You want me to be this year.”

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

When Opportunity Knocks

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” John 10:9

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

We need to practice the presence of the Lord this coming year. You’re going to be tempted to rush into life because of the fast pace to which society is stepping. Many doors will open for you. Many doors will close. What will you do? 

Remember that through it all, Jesus Christ will be behind each and every door as you seek Him with all your heart. He has promised never to leave you, nor forsake you. When the devil comes and knocks at your heart’s door this next year, simply say, “Jesus, please go answer the door.” The Lord is there with us to take care of us.

ACTION POINT:

When the door of opportunity knocks for you today, reflect on His goodness, His mercy, and His faithfulness. Trust in Him to give you what you need.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers