One Burning Focus

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Do you know what the problem with many of us is? Our faith is something tacked onto our lives. Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters…” (Matthew 6:24). Do you believe that? You are to have but one goal in your life, and that is to know Jesus Christ personally, powerfully, passionately, and preeminently. Everything else will flow out of that. 

You say, “But wait a minute. I’ve got other things to do! I’ve got a job. I’ve got to rest. I’ve got to have recreation. I’ve got to have friends. I can’t just narrow my interests to one.” When you bring your life into a burning focus, all of these other things will contribute to the main thing. 

ACTION POINT:

What is the burning focus of your life? Make it Jesus, and you’ve made it! 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Failure Is Not Final

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“O love the Lord, all ye His saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful.” Psalm 31:23

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth were two of the greatest baseball players of all time. Ty Cobb was known for his record number of stolen bases, and Babe Ruth was known for his record number of home runs. What you may not know is that Ty Cobb was also thrown out more than any other man in baseball trying to steal bases. And Babe Ruth struck out more than any other man in baseball! These fellows didn’t let their failures stop them, and neither should you! 

Fix your goal. 

Face your faults. 

Forget your failures. 

Failure in the Christian life is not final. 

ACTION POINT:

Maybe you or someone you know is feeling discouraged today. Remind them or yourself of the promise in Philippians 4:13.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Charting Our Course by His Word

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“But whoso keepeth His word, in Him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him.” 1 John 2:5

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The word “keepeth” in 1 John is a derivative of a word that sailors used years ago to refer to their practice of steering their course by “keeping” the stars. 

This did not mean, of course, that a sailor would not be blown off course or that he might not over-steer. It didn't mean that he might not nod at the wheel or somehow be distracted, or fail to keep a perfect chart. But the goal, the aim, the desire, and the controlling principle in his life were those stars. He knew that in them he could find direction to his destination. 

In the same way, John says God’s commandments are to be the standard by which you and I chart our courses in life. 

ACTION POINT:

What is determining your steps today? God’s Word? Or your word? 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The Penetrating Power of the Word of God

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.” Hebrews 4:12

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

I have found that when you don’t apologize for the Bible but accept and teach the Bible, it goes through the devil’s lies like a white-hot cannonball through a crate of eggs. 

There is power in the Word of God, and Satan does not want you to understand the authority of the Word of God. He doesn’t want you to get the power that will divert his fiery attacks away from your heart — his prime target. When the Word of the Lord and the Lord of the Word become your authority, then Satan and all of his demonic forces will flee, and you are going to have authority for your life. 

ACTION POINT:

How is the Word of God penetrating your heart? Are you even allowing it to do so? Take a few minutes and ask God to begin a mighty work in you through the power of His Word. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Enduring Word of the Lord

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“The grass withers, and the flower thereof falls away: But the word of the Lord endures forever.” 1 Peter 1:24-25

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Many centuries ago there was a Roman emperor named Diocletian who was known for his hatred of Christianity. He hated the Bible so much that he took a Bible and burned it. Then on top of that burned Bible he erected a monument. 

Chiseled on that monument were these words: 

“Extincto nomini christianorum” — “The name of Christian is extinct.” 

Over the years many like Diocletian have sought to eradicate the Bible and Christianity, but for naught. The Bible is the incorruptible Word of God, and the foul breath of time and the gnawing tooth of decay cannot destroy the Word of God! 

ACTION POINT:

Purchase a Bible this week for the sole purpose of giving it away. Then ask God to find that special someone for you to give it to. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Jesus Paid It All

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved). Ephesians 2:5

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Suppose your best friend offered to buy you a new car. You tell him that you can’t accept it outright and offer to help pay for the car. Then you say, “Here’s a quarter. Thank you!” 

Now you’re driving around, and somebody compliments you on your new car. You say, “Thanks! My friend and I bought this car.”

Wouldn’t that be ridiculous? Well, that’s what we’re doing with God when we add our two bits-worth of self-effort to His grace. If you do that, you take the glory from Almighty God. When you get to heaven, all you’re going to be able to say is, “Jesus paid it all.” 

ACTION POINT:

Spend some time reading Ephesians 2 today and praise God for His divine plan of salvation. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Bringing Up Godly Children in an Ungodly World

Bible Meditation:

O God, Thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared Thy wondrous works.” Psalm 71:17

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Satan is on a killing spree—he wants to kill our memory and set us awash in the sea of forgetfulness without any recollection of our Christian heritage as a nation.

Tragically, he’s aiming his artillery at our children, and particularly in the place where they used to grow in the knowledge of good things—the public school. Prayer is out. Police are in. Bibles are out. Values clarification is in. The Ten Commandments are out. Social engineering is in. Creation is out. Evolution is in. History is out. Revisionism is in. God says we need to remember the generation to come. 

ACTION POINT:

You have an important job—to influence the lives of those who will come after you. Teach them to walk in the ways of the Lord and against the tide of the world.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers