The Devil’s Most Prized Tool

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord…” Psalm 25:15

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

There’s a story about the devil auctioning off his tools. He had a high price on pride, laziness, arrogance, hate, envy, and jealousy. But there was one tool that had a sign under it, “Not For Sale.” 

Someone said, “What is that tool and why isn’t it for sale?” 

“Well,” he said, “I can’t afford to get rid of that one. It’s my chief tool, discouragement. With this tool, I can pry open a heart, and once I get in I can do most anything I want.” 

Do you want me to tell you why you get discouraged? I’ll give it to you in a nutshell—you’ve taken your eyes off God!

ACTION POINT:

Are you discouraged? If not, praise God! And find someone who is so that you can give them the encouragement they need in Jesus Christ. Maybe it’s your next-door neighbor, maybe it’s a co¬worker, maybe it’s your spouse.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

In the Face of Discouragement and Ridicule

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “…He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

One evening I overheard my father and a friend of our family talking. 

“What’s Adrian going to do when he gets out of high school?” 

My dad replied, “Well, he wants to go off to college and study to be a preacher.” 

That man just laughed and said, “He won’t make it. He’ll never stick it out. He’ll quit.” 

This was a man that I admired and respected very much. I almost felt like crying. That’s what the world says about Christians, “They won’t stick it out. They won’t make it.” 

You see, the devil hasn’t changed his tactics. He’s still mocking and throwing cold water on our walks with the Lord. Get ready. If you don’t feel the flames of ridicule now, just wait.

ACTION POINT:

Have you ever told someone that they wouldn’t amount to anything? Has anyone ever told you? Send those lies back to the pit of hell and rest in the promises of His Word that you are deeply loved and bought with the price of the Savior’s own blood.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The First Step to Setting Things Right

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The Lord Jesus said, “Moreover if thy brother trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault” (Matthew 18:15)

You say, “He’s the one that did wrong. If he wants forgiveness let him come and ask for it.” 

But Jesus said, “No, you go to him.” 

Whether you are in the right or whether you are in the wrong, as a child of God, you are to go to that individual. Isn’t that what God did in the Garden of Eden? Adam and Eve sinned against God and the Bible tells us that God came looking for them: “Adam, where art thou?” 

That was not the voice of a detective. That was the voice of a God Who pursues us to forgive us.

ACTION POINT:

Stop right now and ask God to show you if you have an unforgiving spirit toward someone. Then, in His power and strength, call that person and ask his/her forgiveness. It’s going to be impossible in your strength, but remember, God does the impossible.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

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