God's Provision in Your Life

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “Give us this day our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

A philosopher once said, “To whom little is not enough, nothing is enough.” 

I know what I want and I know what you want. I want to have some money in the bank and I want to have something there so that when tomorrow comes, then I don’t have to worry about it. Isn’t that what you want? We call that security. 

Question: is that really security? Who is more secure – the man who has a warehouse full of stale bread that the rats or thieves can get, or the man who has a father who is a very, very rich baker?

ACTION POINT:

Begin your prayer time today with the Lord’s Prayer and ask Him to help you be content. Bow before Him in humble adoration of His provision in your life. Then share the Bread of Life with someone who is hungry today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

This Light Momentary Affliction

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

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.

Romans 8:18

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

1 Peter 1:6-9

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,

7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith-more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,

9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1Peter 5:10-11

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

11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Romans 8:24

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

Hebrews 11:1

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Isaiah 54:7-8

7 For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. 

8 In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you," says the LORD, your Redeemer. 

This is the season of joy as we celebrate the birth of Christ. But even in the midst of such joy there is still suffering. We live in a fallen creation which has been perverted by Satan. God created the heavens and the earth for us just as He created us in His image. 

Faith without Works Is Dead

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” James 2:26

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

When you ask God for something, do you just sit back and do nothing and say, “Well, I’m going to show my faith by doing nothing.” 

To the contrary, you will show your faith by doing something. For faith without works is what? Dead! (see James 2:20)

Do you want a house? Pray for it. Then say “Amen” with a hammer and saw. Do you want a wife? Pray for one. Then go shave, put on some cologne, learn some manners, and learn how to be thoughtful and loving.

ACTION POINT:

What have you been praying earnestly about the last week? What is your heart’s desire? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how you can put feet to that prayer. Then, walk the talk!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Praying, "Thy Will Be Done on Earth ...."

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed by Thy name.” Matthew 6:9-10

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

When you pray, “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done . . . on earth as it is in heaven” do you realize that this prayer has not yet been answered, but it will be answered? 

Jesus Christ is literally, actually, visibly, bodily coming back to this earth. Do you believe that? Do you think that Jesus Christ would have taught us to pray this prayer if it would not have been answered? 

His kingdom has not come yet on earth. His will is not being done on earth. But it shall be; it will be because our Lord taught us to pray that.

ACTION POINT:

When you read or watch the news today, how do you see God’s will not being done on earth?

Ask the Lord that His will would be brought to earth – praying for the people involved in each story for their welfare and their salvation.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

How to Know the Will of God

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

John 15:7

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Do you want to know the will of God in your life? 

Here’s a test: how much time do you spend reading the Bible? Do you think God really believes we want to know His will when we don’t take even 15 minutes a day to read the one book above all books that God has specifically written to show you His will, to reveal His will to you, to unfold His will to you?

Your first step in knowing His will is the surrender principle—surrendering our will to His. Your second step is the scripture principle. Read His word, meditate upon it, share it, and study it. When you bow to His will and read His will, you’ll know His will.

ACTION POINT:

Commit to read God’s Word at least 15 minutes a day for 30 days. When the month is over, re-evaluate what you have learned and ask God to help you be obedient to daily Bible reading from this day forward.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

God the Father and God the Creator

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “…that we may be partakers of the divine nature.” 2 Peter 1:4

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Have you heard the phrase, “The universal fatherhood of God and the universal brotherhood of men”? It sounds warm and fuzzy, but it is cold and barren of truth. God is not the Father of all people; God is the Father of those who are born into His family. 

But you say, “But pastor, didn’t God create all human beings?” Yes. “And if God created all human beings, wouldn’t that make God the Father of all human beings?” No, it makes God the creator of all human beings. There’s a difference between fatherhood and creation. God created rats, roaches, buzzards, and rattlesnakes. He’s not their father. God becomes our Father not by creation, but by conception when we’re born into His family.

ACTION POINT:

Read the story of creation in Genesis—making the distinction between the creations of God and the Creator called God. Go on a nature walk and thank God that He rules over creation, causing the sun to shine, the rain to water the earth, and for you to have your next breath.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Gathering in His Name

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

There is something wonderful about unity. I heard about a fellow who courted a girl by writing her a beautiful love letter every day for two years. He thought that would be a wonderful way to court her. Do you know what happened? She married the mail carrier! There is nothing like being there. There is nothing like personal contact. There is a sense in which Jesus Christ is present when His people gather that’s not in any other sense. You cannot get it the same way at home.

ACTION POINT:

Do you have a church home? If not, I encourage you to find one today. If church attendance isn’t important, I wonder why Satan works so hard to keep folks away. If you do have a church home, make a special effort this week to meet a new friend and find a need they have which you can meet.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers