More Than Fair-Weather Christianity

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“If we believe not, yet He abides faithful: He cannot deny Himself.”  2 Timothy 2:13

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Are you a fair-weather Christian? There are some who, if their children get sick, will stop tithing. If they get a bad report from the doctor, they stop praising. If somebody hurts their feelings, they stop going to church. 

You can tell the commitment level of a Christian by their “fair weather” gauge. The test is, when everything goes wrong or doesn’t add up, what will you do? 

I’ll give you some hints. Keep giving. Keep praying. Keep praising. Keep witnessing. Keep worshipping. Don’t fail to be faithful.

ACTION POINT:

Think of three things you can do today to bring the light of God’s Son to someone who may be struggling with his or her faith. Then go do it!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Questions About The Lord’s Day

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”  Exodus 20:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Is it okay to watch television on Sunday? Is it okay to go to a ball game on Sunday? Is it okay to eat out on Sunday? Is it okay to read the newspaper on Sunday? Can I play softball on Sunday? Can I go out on a boat on Sunday? Can I go to the grocery store if we’re out of milk on Sunday? 

We hear questions like these all the time. But do you know what’s wrong with them? You’re asking the wrong man. It’s not my day—it’s the Lord’s day. Ask Him. 

ACTION POINT:

Ask God, “How can I honor You on the Lord’s Day so at the end of the day I can know that it was indeed Your day?”

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Running With Endurance

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it die, it brings forth much fruit.”  John 12:24

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

You can tell the size of a Christian by what it takes to stop him. Hebrews 12:1 says we are to “run with patience the race that is set before us.” And this word “patience” is not used in the sense that we use the word. It literally means “endurance.” 

Everybody knows that a runner is going to win or lose primarily by his endurance. You cannot quit. When it hurts, you cannot quit. When your lungs are on fire, you cannot quit. When your feet feel like lead, you cannot quit. When your sides ache, you cannot quit! You’ll never be a spiritual athlete if you’re a quitter! No pain. No gain.

ACTION POINT:

His power will enable you to run the race and gain the victor’s crown!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

FROM FEAR TO FAITH

Psalm 56

1 Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; 

2 my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly. 

3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 

4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? 

5 All day long they injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil. 

6 They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps, as they have waited for my life. 

7 For their crime will they escape? In wrath cast down the peoples, O God! 

8 You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? 

9 Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. 

10 In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise, 

11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? 

12 I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you. 

13 For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. 

Identifying with the Psalmist...

Have you ever felt overwhelmed? 

Have you ever been opposed?

Have you ever felt alone?

Have you ever been afraid?

Implications of the Psalm...

Put your trust in the character of God. 

He is the merciful God.

He is the omnipotent God.

He is the God who judges sin.

He is the God who sees, hears, knows, and remembers suffering. 

He is the God who delivers from darkness and death.

He is the God who gives light to life.

Lift your heart to the Word of God. 

His Word is supreme.

His Word is sure.

His Word is sufficient.

Place your hope in the Son of God.

He is the fullness of God’s character. 

He is the Word made flesh.

Thanks Pastor David!

Rounding Third and Heading for Home

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

When Jesus came to the end of His life, He said, “I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4).

He stayed on the track, and so did Paul. They accomplished what God had set out for them to do. 

Every man has a race that he must run. Every woman has a race set before her. God knows the course. And everything God commands of you, He will empower you to do. Whether you’re nine or ninety, young or old, rich or poor, God has a plan for your life! God has a race He wants you to run!

ACTION POINT:

What is the race God has set before you? If you are not certain, inquire of Him. What He asks of you, He will empower you to do. Thank God for the power to finish the course.

 LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Removing Trip-Ups from the Track

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.”  1 Corinthians 9:24

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Runners not only need to untangle themselves from weights that may slow them down, but they need to also remove things from the track that may trip them up! 

As a Christian, the good things in life may slow us down, but sin will stop us dead in our tracks—it will trip us up. You had better learn to treat sin as sin would treat you! Sin will be merciless to you, and you need to be merciless to sin. 

2 Timothy 2:19 says “Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

ACTION POINT:

Is there any unconfessed sin in your life that is tripping you up today?  Pray Psalm 139:23-24.

 LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

All Things May Be Lawful, But…

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” 1 Corinthians 6:12

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

If you want to be a victor in the race God has for you, you must learn the discipline of laying aside some weights. Many times these weights are good things in our lives. But good things are bad things when they keep us from doing the best things. 

Life would be simple if it were a choice between good and bad. But typically it’s a choice between good and best. 

Our verse says “all things are not expedient.” When you think of the word “expedient,” think of the word “expedition.” You are going somewhere, and if something doesn’t speed you on your way, it’s excess baggage and you need to get rid of it. 

ACTION POINT:

Ask God, “Are there legitimate, lawful things in my life that are keeping me from running the race You’ve given me?” If revealed, ask for discipline to lay them aside!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers