The True Gospel

BIBLE MEDITATION:

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

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

How can you tell whether or not you have the true gospel? Paul gives you three tests.

First, the source of the gospel. Where did it come from? God gave it. It is direct and divine revelation. The gospel is authenticated by its source. 

Secondly, by its salvation. Any gospel that is not the gospel of grace is not the true gospel. You can’t beg it. You can’t buy it. You can’t borrow it. You can’t steal it. You can’t earn it. It was bought by Christ on the cross. It is the supernatural work of God. 

The third test is its subject. It is the grace of Christ. Jesus is the subject. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is all about Jesus.

ACTION POINT:

Take an hour or two this week and find the prophecies about Jesus in the book of Isaiah. Take comfort in knowing that Jesus is the One Who was, Who is, and Who is to come! 

 LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Your Adversary, The Devil

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against . . . the rulers of the darkness of this world.” Ephesians 6:12 

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
There is a ruthless, cruel underworld system that wars against you. The crime bosses are but amateurs compared to this syndicate, ruled by the Master of Deception. He’s called the “destroyer,” “liar,” “accuser,” “tempter,” and “prince.” Satan is indescribably wicked, brilliantly stupid, and hideously beautiful. If he can’t convince you that he does not exist, then he tries to spread the lie that he is only in hell. He is not in hell. Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels, but he is not there yet!

Be warned . . . Satan comes against you to obsess, depress, and possess. But, be encouraged . . . Jesus has purchased your victory by His blood!

ACTION POINT:
Satan is portrayed as a roaring lion in 1 Peter 5:8. Put on the full armor of God (Eph. 6:10-18) and claim the victory that only faith in King Jesus can achieve.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Controlling Your Thought Life

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

There was a sign in a business that said, “We are not what we think we are; what we think—we are.” 

What are you allowing into your mind and thereby controlling your heart, your actions, and your words? 

God made you where you can’t think two thoughts at one time. If you’re thinking what’s right, you can’t be thinking what’s wrong. And as you think, you will become.

Guard your mind. Center your mind upon the Lord Jesus. Don’t let the devil take away your pure-hearted devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. Stay in love with Jesus and there won’t be any room for those filthy, dirty, wicked, lascivious, lustful, and prideful thoughts that bombard us all.

ACTION POINT:

Start today to become more active in marshalling your thoughts and bringing them into obedience to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). Use Phil. 4:8 as a sieve through which you pass each thought.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Expressing Our Praise to the Lord

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.” Psalm 100:1

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

There’s nothing wrong with getting excited in church. I heard about a man who came to a cold church. The preacher said something he agreed with and he said, “Amen.” 

Everybody turned around and looked at him. After awhile he said, “Praise the Lord.” 

Then people arched their eyebrows. Next time he said “Amen” an usher tapped him on the shoulder to quiet him down. 

The usher said, “What is wrong with you?” 

He said, “Well, nothing. I’ve just got religion.” 

To which the usher curtly replied, “Well, mister, you didn’t get it here.”    

It’s easier to cool down a zealot than it is to warm up a corpse.

ACTION POINT:

What does it mean to make a joyful noise unto the Lord? How do you make a joyful noise to Him . . . not just on Sundays in church, but all week long? Sing one of your favorite hymns throughout the day today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Hunger for the Word of God

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “I rejoice at Thy Word.” Psalm 119:162

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Job said, “I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12). When God’s Word is as important to you as your physical food, then you’re going to start to grow in your Christian life. 

I wonder if one day the dust on our Bibles is not going to testify against us. The following verse sobers my heart, “These hath God married and no man shall part, dust on the Bible and drought on the heart.” Oh, that we would hunger for the Word of God!

ACTION POINT:

Fast one meal today. Sense just a touch of the hunger our hearts are to have for the Word of God. And remember to pray for those who need the pure milk of His Word!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

True Hope for a World in Turmoil

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.” John 12:32

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

For the first time in history, man is afraid of what he knows. His head and his hands have outrun his heart and we are being faced with things for which we have no answers—the plague of AIDS, the tinderbox in the Middle East, the outbreaks of famine, the irregular weather disturbances, and much more. But we don’t have to wring our hands and say, “What is the world coming to?” 

We can look up and say, “Who is the world coming to? It’s coming to Jesus! Praise God!”

ACTION POINT:

Call your church today and ask if there is a place where you can volunteer in the area of community outreach. Perhaps there is a soup kitchen, a nursing home, a homeless shelter, or a children’s center where you can serve.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Staying Focused on God’s Plan for Your Life

BIBLE MEDITATION:

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

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The devil would love to get you distracted and get you off the course on which God has placed you. God has something He wants you to do and you had better not substitute the good for the best. Find out what God wants you to do and refuse to be distracted by the devil. You need to say as the apostle Paul said, “This one thing I do!” Know what it is that God wants you to do and do it with all your strength for His glory!

ACTION POINT:

Take a few minutes to write out a mission statement focusing on “that one thing” (TOT) that you think God has called you to do. Then, post the letters TOT everywhere to remind yourself to stay focused on the calling of God in your life.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers