Thursday, January 22, 2015

Hammers and Chisels at Work


BIBLE MEDITATION:
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the Husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” John 15:1-2

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
When Solomon built his temple, he employed eighty thousand stonecutters. They chipped and shaped those stones in the quarry before bringing them to the temple mount. Why? Because Solomon didn’t want the sound of the hammers and chisels heard on the temple mount.

In the same way, you are part of the living stones of His temple and God is shaping you here in the “quarry” of earth. Part of your shaping is in the form of persecution. So don’t look at your persecutors as enemies, but as God’s stonecutters. 

ACTION POINT:
Next time someone reviles you, say “Thank God, another stonecutter.” God is shaping you to be what you ought to be.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Monday, January 19, 2015

Submission and Humility

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
To be “clothed” in 1 Peter 5:5 means to tie a knot or put on a servant’s apron. Basically this verse tells us to tie on the apron of a slave and be humble.

Why do you think Peter used that figure of speech? I think it was because Jesus laid aside His garments, girded Himself with a towel, and washed their feet. Peter would never forget that moment. The Scripture records, “Peter saith unto Him, ‘Thou shalt never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered him, ‘If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me,’ ” (John 13:8). 

ACTION POINT:
There are two lessons here: 1. We must be clothed in humility. You can’t look down on somebody when you’re washing their feet.  2. Even though we are saved, we walk in a dirty world. We need to come to Jesus daily to cleanse us from our sins, restore and refresh us.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Sunday, January 18, 2015

No Joking Matter / Eternity Is Real


Why do you think the world is fascinated with death stories made by the Entertainment Industry?
They deem it entertaining but is it?
The bible says "to think on things that are lovely, pure, true, honorable, just, or commendable."
The Entertainment Industry did not learn this, nor do they respect this truth!
It really makes life seem worthless as they characterize all matter of death so lightly!
I think it makes people de-sensitized to finality of death and the realization of the aftermath which is eternity.
Life is precious!
As a society, we have allowed abortion!
As a society, we are allowing thoughts of assisted suicide for people who are ill.
These things do have eternal consequences!
I am not judging, these apply to me also!
There are two places for you to end up, Heaven or Hell.
God is Creator and His Son, Christ Jesus will judge you.
Do you really want to make it a joke about your eternity?
I pray that as you read this, you will understand that there is no escape from Hell.
It is real!
It is eternal, it is hopeless, and it is a horrifying place reserved for unrepentant sinners who deny the power God has given Christ who alone can offer salvation and will judge man.
Will you trust Christ or will you deny His power?

Things to consider before you opt for any forms of entertainment:
Phil. 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.


No escape:
Luke 16
19 "There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried,
23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
24 And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.'
25 But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.l
26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.'
27 And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house-
28 for I have five brothers-so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.'
29 But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.'
30 And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'
31 He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'"

Salvation by Christ alone:
Acts 4:
10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead-by him this man is standing before you well.
11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.
12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

Lord, help us to be very strict in what we watch and read. Help us to keep Your word in our heart so we can rightly judge what is pure! Amen


So Teach Us How to Number Our Days. . .”


BIBLE MEDITATION:
“And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:12

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
The difference between people is not that one has more time than the other. The difference is whether they use their time wisely.

You say, “Well, I’m just killing time.” To kill time is to commit suicide by degrees. You are just killing yourself because you + time = life.

Now that doesn’t mean you are going to be busy every moment.There needs to be balance in your life – checking in with God first before you make plans and add things to your agenda.  
ACTION POINT:
Make sure you are doing what God wants you to do. Jesus came to the end of His life and do you know what He said?

“I have glorified Thee on earth: I have finished the work that Thou gavest Me to do” (John 17:4).

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Resting Tomorrow or Borrowing Trouble?


BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.”Psalm 116:7
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
I heard of a woman who woke up her husband because she thought she heard a burglar downstairs. He went down with a flashlight and was shining it around. Sure enough, there was a burglar in their home. He said, “Hold it right there. I’ve got a gun on you.”

He picked up the phone and dialed the police. “And another thing,” he said, “Before you go, I want my wife to come down here and meet you. She’s been looking for you for 24 years.”

A lot of people are that way. They borrow trouble by anticipating or worrying about what may happen. What you need to do is stop looking to yesterday in guilt or anticipating tomorrow with anxiety. 

ACTION POINT:
Simply rest in the day the Lord has given you today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Love Draws the Curtain of Mercy

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.” Proverbs 10:12
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
There are people in every fellowship who take joy in finding something bad about somebody else. When they hear something ugly, they take great delight in exposing it.

Love does not rejoice in iniquity. Love wishes that it never happened. Love tries to cover it up. That doesn’t mean we condone sin, we cover it. Not “cover-up,” but cover. Let me illustrate.

Noah had three sons, Ham, Shem, and Japheth. Ham came and saw his father’s nakedness and was quick to tell others. Shem and Japheth walked backward into the tent and covered their father to help him cover his shame – not to condone what he had done, but to cover it. 

ACTION POINT:
Wouldn’t the world be a lot better place if we had that spirit? When the enemy tempts you to “stir the pot,” remember that love rejoices not in iniquity.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The First Step to Setting Things Right

“With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” - Matthew 19:26

The Lord Jesus said, “Moreover if thy brother trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault” (Matthew 18:15). You say, “He’s the one that did wrong. If he wants forgiveness let him come and ask for it.” But Jesus said, “No, you go to him.” Whether you are in the right or whether you are in the wrong, as a child of God, you are to go to that individual. Isn’t that what God did in the Garden of Eden? Adam and Eve sinned against God and the Bible tells us that God came looking for them: “Adam, where art thou?” That was not the voice of a detective. That was the voice of a God Who pursues us to forgive us.

Stop right now and ask God to show you if you have an unforgiving spirit toward someone. Then, in His power and strength, call that person and ask his/her forgiveness. It’s going to be impossible in your strength, but remember, God does the impossible.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers