Clothed with the Righteousness of Christ

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” Philippians 3:9

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

A woman worked as a maid in the house of a mean innkeeper. One day God saved her and she could not hide her happiness. What used to be drudgery turned into joy. The innkeeper was furious and began to belittle her. He hated her for being happy.

Finally, he said to her, “You say you’re saved and I can see your happiness. Can you tell me what being saved means?” And she said, “To me, it feels as though I am standing in Jesus’ shoes, and He is standing in mine.” A theologian couldn’t have said it better.

2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

ACTION POINT:

Have you come to realize that, in Jesus, you have been made “the righteousness of God”? It is the gift of God, in Him. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Wash Me, Savior, Or I Die

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.” Romans 4:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The same year America declared its independence from England, Augustus Toplady wrote a song declaring complete dependence upon God. He penned, “Rock of Ages.” The third verse declares, “Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to the cross I cling; Naked, come to Thee for dress; Helpless, look to Thee for grace; Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash me, Savior, or I die.”

It’s hard sometimes to let go of our sins AND our righteous deeds in order to completely trust in God for our salvation.

Did you know there is something about human nature that doesn’t want to do this? We want to somehow help God with our good deeds. And yet “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6b). 

ACTION POINT:

Lay your knapsack of righteous works at His feet. Pray, “God makes us righteous. Wash me, Savior, or I die.”

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The Only Thing That Will Save You

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”Titus 3:5

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Paul said, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Philippians 3:7-8).

What does Paul mean by loss? He means that even good things are bad things if they become a substitute for the best thing. Suppose you are on a plane trip. The plane is going down and you grab your knapsack instead of your parachute and jump out. Is the knapsack bad? No, it’s just not the best choice to save your life!The worst form of badness may be human goodness when that human goodness becomes a substitute for the new birth.

ACTION POINT:
No knapsack full of “works of righteousness” will save you. Cast yourself completely upon the work of redemption—the work of the cross. You cannot add to what Jesus did.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Nothing In My Hands I Bring

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Have you ever laid your head on the pillow at the end of a long day and satisfyingly said, “Well, I was a good person today, so if I died tonight I will go to heaven”?

If you have, you’re not alone. I would venture to say that most people believe if you go to church, tithe your money, and do good to others, that God is going to let you into heaven.

If being religious could get you to heaven, then why was a religious man like Paul struck down on the Road to Damascus and asked by the Lord, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?” (Acts 9:4b).

More importantly, if we could save ourselves with our good deeds, God did not need to send His only Son into the world as a sacrifice for the likes of you and me. No, it is Jesus’ righteousness that saves us. And Him alone.

ACTION POINT:
Take stock: What “religious” things are you doing, hoping to score a few more “brownie points” with God? This is “works doctrine.” Abandon it. Come to Jesus and say, “Nothing in my hands I bring. Simply to Thy cross I cling.”

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

How Far Does His Forgiveness Reach?

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind. Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
People have the idea today that it is okay to live in immorality and that God is going to overlook their little indiscretions. Is that so?

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). God doesn’t miss a beat of our lives. He is the righteous judge and will judge accordingly (see Hebrews 13:4).

“Well Pastor, does that mean that if I have done any of these things, I can’t be saved?”

No! 1 Corinthians 6:11 promises: “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” Hallelujah! There is no sin so awful that the blood of Christ cannot cleanse. He makes the vilest sinner clean. 

ACTION POINT:
Nothing—not your worst offense—stands between you and the Cross. . .between you and forgiveness. . .between you and a loving Heavenly Father—nothing but your hesitation. Come to Him. He longs to receive you. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

When It’s a Good Thing to Turn and Run

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is outside the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” 1 Corinthians 6:18

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The sin of immorality is not a sin we are told to fight in the Bible. It is a sin we are told to flee! (See 2 Timothy 2:22.) God tells us to get out of a compromising situation. Read what Joseph did when he was approached by Potiphar’s wife in Genesis 39:7-18. In a word, he fled!

If there is a person who works in your office and that person is immorally flirting with you, it would be better for you to quit your job than to stay in that office. 

“But—my job!” 

But—your purity!

ACTION POINT:

Perhaps you are fighting a pornography addiction and you are alone in your motel room with free X-rated movies. Do you sneak a peak? Don’t see how far you can come to the edge without falling over. See how far you can stay away!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Wisdom You Need Is There for the Asking

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.” Proverbs 2:7

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

In Christ there is soundness, strength, security, and satisfaction. When you come to Him with urgency, fervency, persistency, and expectancy, you will hear from Him. He is not going to think you are pestering Him; He is pleased when you ask Him for His wisdom.Annie Johnson Flint, that blessed hymn writer, wrote: “His love has no limit, His grace has no measure, His power no boundary known unto man; For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth and giveth and giveth again.” 

ACTION POINT:

Ask Him, “Lord, I need to make a decision. What college do I choose? Should I marry this man or not? Is this the job You want me to have? What mechanic do I use to repair my car? Where do you want me to live? Do I rent or own?” Cast all your cares upon Him today, for He longs to fill you with Himself.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers