When You Or I Sin, He Forgives

What humbling words, "You are forgiven". 

1 John 2:12

I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake. 

Luke 7:48

And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

Jesus has the authority!

Luke 5:24

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-he said to the man who was paralyzed-"I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home."

Matthew 28:18

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

What will you do with this joyful text?

Ignore it?

Embrace it?

Lord, how many times will You forgive our rebellion? 

We ask for mercy, Lord. 

We ask for clear understanding!

We ask for Your grace!

Amen

Meet Him in the Morning

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up.” Psalm 5:3

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Christianity is a love relationship. You cannot love someone that you do not know. And you cannot know someone that you don’t spend quality time with. 

To know Jesus is to love Him. 

To love Him is to trust Him. 

To trust Him is to obey Him. 

To obey Him is to be blessed. 

It begins with a quality, daily communication with the Lord. Why is it best to spend time with the Lord in the morning? Because you are getting ready to go on a road trip through life. You don’t take the trip and then read the map, do you?

ACTION POINT:

How are you starting your mornings? With a cup of coffee and the paper? Or with the pure milk of the Word and the light of His presence?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Safe by Keeping the Law?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Suppose you’re driving down the road and a police officer stops you for running a red light. And you say to the officer, “I ran a red light, but you have no right to give me a ticket because I stopped at all the other streets and I have obeyed the speed limit.”

He responds, “Don’t tell me about all the things that you’ve done good. You’ve broken the law.”

If you think you’re going to be saved by keeping the law, then you must keep all of it, because God demands perfection. No amount of obedience can make up for one act of disobedience. If you keep the whole law and yet offend in one point you are guilty of it all.

ACTION POINT:

Read Romans 7:1 to 8:4. Can you relate to Paul’s quandary about keeping the law and the war within his members concerning its requirement of absolute obedience?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Heaven Is Not a State of Mind

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Do you believe that there is a home in heaven waiting for you? There is! Because Jesus cannot lie. He is Truth incarnate. He always told the truth. He said, “If it were not so, I would have told you.” 

Jesus would not let the hope of heaven go on beating in your heart if it were simply a lie, a superstition, or a fond delusion. Heaven is not merely a state of mind. It is not a condition. It is a place so real that Jesus is there in a literal, resurrected body. There is a body in this place called heaven. It is His resurrected body. Heaven is a place on God’s map.

ACTION POINT:

Do you have a dream home? If you’ve never thought about what would be your perfect home, think about your heavenly home. Nothing could be more perfect!

 LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Jesus Saves the Best for Last

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet I show unto you a more excellent way.” 1 Corinthians 12:31

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Satan always gives the best first and the worst last. For example, Proverbs 20:17 says, “The bread of deceit is sweet, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.”  With Satan, it always starts sweet, but it does not end that way. 

Satan is a counterfeiter and a deceiver, and he is guilty of false advertising. He doesn’t show the drunkard in the gutter covered with flies. He doesn’t show the addict shaking uncontrollably from another night of detox. He doesn’t show the ruined lives from sexually transmitted diseases. He always gives the best first and the worst last. Jesus gives the best last.

ACTION POINT:

Lord. Then ask God to teach you from what happened.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The Easter Card

Today, in the mail, I received an Easter card. It was from my oldest brother's wife. My brother died a year ago from cancer. The card was a sweet reminder of " My grace is sufficient". She has been through a lot but still praises God in the loudest voice and with her whole heart! Her joy has not been stolen by that thing we call death or by watching her husband die a little each day. Just a few years ago their son was killed, by accident or murder, we know not, but God knows! She is grounded in the knowledge that through all things we glorify God! I have seen many miracles, ones we think we understand but probably don't and others we just simply accept as such and stand in awe at the power of all mighty God! We are truly weak and feeble as we face the cares of this world! Only through knowing the power of God and by His grace do we stand! 

It is so true, "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

2 Corinthians 12:9

Are you resting in Christ today?

Turn from sin, be obedient to Christ! 

This is for me as well as you!

God forgive me a sinner!

Lord, help us see the opportunities You give everyday. Let us count Your blessings everyday! Amen

Free from Your Critics!

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

God loves you so much that Jesus Christ hung in agony and blood for you. 

You are precious to God. You are the object of God’s love. The blood of Jesus Christ was poured out on Calvary for you. Friend, if you know all that, then you can stand up against any criticism. It won’t bother you what others say about you. The cross sets you free. He who died for you now lives in you. He gave Himself for you that He might give Himself to you. When Jesus Christ died for you, He didn’t just take away your sins, He took away your self. You are crucified. So who can harm a dead man?

ACTION POINT:

Have you felt the sting of criticism this week? Remove the stinger and bathe the wound with the balm of Jesus’ love. Give your critic to the Lord. Then ask God to teach you from what happened.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers