The True Way to Happiness

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart.” Psalm 119:2

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Have you ever thought that if you lived according to God’s laws, you were going to miss out? Truth is, if you don’t live according to God’s laws you’re going to miss out! God’s laws are for your welfare. 

God is not a tyrant in heaven making a bunch of laws to make you squirm like a worm in hot ashes as you try to keep those laws. God loves you. Every time God says “Thou shalt not,” God is simply saying, “Don’t hurt yourself.” And every time God says, “Thou shalt,” God is saying, “Help yourself to happiness.” God has something so wonderful for you.

ACTION POINT:

Write the following down on some sticky notes and post them everywhere … 

“God loves me.” 

“God knows better than I do.” 

“God is in control.” 

“God is good.”

 LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

What Cancer Cannot Do

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

What if you had an appointment with the doctor and found out that you had cancer? Maybe you have heard this news or heard it on behalf of a loved one. I want to tell you some things cancer cannot do. Cancer cannot shatter hope. Cancer cannot corrode faith. Cancer cannot eat away peace. Cancer cannot place a limit on eternal life. Cancer cannot quench the Spirit of God and cancer cannot lessen the power of the resurrection. That’s how limited cancer is!

ACTION POINT:

Is there someone in your life that is suffering from cancer? Give them the Good News that you’ve read today. And pray that they will know the Savior.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

When We Don’t Understand

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

I read about a farmer who had a big brush pile of debris he was going to burn. He noticed a little bird had built a nest in that brush pile, so he destroyed the nest. When he came back days later, he found the bird rebuilding the nest. The farmer destroyed the nest again. But the bird built again, and again the farmer destroyed it. Finally, the little bird gave up. I can just imagine that little bird going home and saying to his family, “I just don’t know why all our good plans of building a home are not working.” Well, there was an unseen hand doing something the bird may have thought was bad, but was really good.

ACTION POINT:

Read Romans 8:28. Notice the verse is not saying that all things are good. All things are not good. There are some terrible things in this world. The point is that God is good!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

God Is Good

John 7:

37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.

38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"

Revelation 22:

17 The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

As she lays in her hospital bed, her eighty something mind racing wondering if she will ever go home, she clings to the knowledge "God is good".

She has an earthly family who loves her, a husband of 64 years she has shared life with, a blessed life! 

Things she knows well, but none compare to the knowledge of a Savior who" while she was a sinner, died for her"!

He took her as she was, sin and all, and made her a new creation! 

She stands on the promise from sweet Jesus" I will never leave or forsake you". 

Even while she is uncertain of what tomorrow holds, she can rest in the trust of a eternity purchased by the death and resurrection of a holy Savior! 

Not something she earned, but a precious gift given through mercy!

What indescribable mercy The Lord has shown us! 

Do you know the definition of indescribable? 

It is too extraordinary for description!

Eternity, yes there is one! 

Tomorrow will not come forever!

Death is certain for all!

Where have you put your trust?

There is an open invitation for you!

Repent and know the joy of everlasting salvation through Christ!

Romans 5:8

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Luke 5:32

I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."

Luke 15:7
Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Matthew 26:26-28

26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body."

27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you,

28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for 
many for the forgiveness of sins.

God’s Providence

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt thee to inherit the land.” Psalm 37:34

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

We talk about providence, but what is providence? 

Providence means to see ahead of time and to make provision. This is what God does. He sees events before they ever get here and moves everything toward the goal that He has in mind. 

Now there is a lot of evil in the world, so don’t get the idea that everything that happens is God’s will. Rape is not God’s will. Murder is not God’s will. Racial hatred is not God’s will. Adultery is not God’s will. Sodomy is not God’s will. 

Man has a will and man has an evil heart. And in God’s grand design, He gave man a free will. Even when man does evil, where God does not rule, God overrules.

ACTION POINT:

Read Psalm 37. Find a brother or sister in the Lord and discuss the presence of evil in this world and the providence of God in the lives of His children.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Longing For His Return

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“...we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Is your heart longing for Jesus to return? Are you looking for Him? I am. The coming of Jesus is really the only hope for this world. 

And when will that be? I don’t know. It may be at morning when the clouds break open with sunlight and shadows of night recede from the sky. It may be at noon when the world is hustling and bustling. It may be at dusk when the birds are singing their evening song. Or at midnight, when the stars will dim by the blaze of glory when He descends from the heavenlies. 

What joy fills my heart! Does it fill yours as well to think of that moment? Are you ready?

ACTION POINT:

Look up into the skies today and think about His return. Can you imagine the sound of the trumpets and the voice of the angels announcing His return?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

What Is Success?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

You’ve heard it said, “The one who dies with the most toys wins.” Is that success? Having your dreams come true? Getting all you want? Earning enough money so that you never have to work again? 

May I tell you what success is? And I say this without equivocation. Success is the progressive realization of the will of God for your life. That’s what it is. 

It’s not how much money you have. It’s not how famous you are. It’s not how healthy you are. It’s not how many friends you have or how many toys you have acquired. Success is nothing more, nothing less, than the progressive realization of the will of God for your life.

ACTION POINT:

Do you want to know God’s will? Do you want your heart’s desire to come true?

Read Micah 6:8. What does God require of you? 

Micah 6:8

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? 

Read Psalm 37:4. What is God calling you to do?

Ps.37:4

Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers