Mourning with Purpose

“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” - Matthew 5:4

We’ve done all we can do to keep ourselves from feeling any pain. We have psychologists who numb our neuroses, counselors who absolve us of guilt, doctors to sedate our pain, insurance agents to take away our worries, and even at death we have the mortuary to try to beautify death for us.

But Jesus was a man of sorrows. He saw the sin around Him, and it broke His heart. In Matthew 23:34-39 we read how Jesus’ heart ached for Jerusalem and the destruction sin had wrought in the hearts of men.

Do the things that break the heart of Jesus, break yours?
Do you have a dry eye in a hell-bent world?
It’s time to be like Jesus. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Who is in the Spotlight?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me.” John 15:26

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The Holy Spirit has one cause: to testify of Jesus Christ. He is very single-minded. He’s not interested in doing ten things for God – just one.

There are some who get caught up in the Holy Spirit. They focus on what He is doing – through miracles, healings, tongues, and more. Friend, beware of those who focus on making the Holy Spirit the figurehead of their faith.

The mark that a man is filled with the Holy Spirit is that he is always talking about Jesus Christ. He can’t do any more. He can do no less. 

ACTION POINT:

I challenge you to make this pledge to God: I will bring my talents, my business, my time, and my resources – all for the cause of Christ. This one thing I do – sink or swim, live or die – Jesus will be glorified in my life today and every day!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Willing to Travel Under Sealed Orders

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” Hebrews 11:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Who knows what marvelous opportunity God has waiting for you if you are sensitive enough to listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to you right now. Don’t say, “Show me what You want me to do; then I’ll decide whether or not to do it.” Instead, we need to say, “I’ll do it – whatever it is. You tell me. If You explain it, fine. If You don’t explain it, fine. But God, I’m going to do it.” It’s just as bad to run ahead of God as it is to run behind Him. The Bible says that Abraham went out without knowing where God was sending him. Are you ready to travel under sealed orders?

ACTION POINT:

Are you married? Talk to your spouse this week about your availability to God. Are you willing to sell your home, take your children, and go to the remotest corner of the world to share God’s plan of salvation if He called you there? If not, ask God to change your heart. He is the potter; you are the clay.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Are you…Available? Expendable? Adaptable?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Jesus never approved of putting the traditions of men above the Word of God (see Mark 7:1-13). What about you? Are you willing to change your life in order that God may use you, or had you rather hold onto your traditions? There are three qualities I believe every Christian should exhibit: availability, expendability, and adaptability. We need to be walking with the Lord so closely that we ought to be ready to witness at a moment’s notice. It is God’s ability and your availability. It is His power and your personality. It is His work and your witness. That’s God’s plan!

ACTION POINT:

Let’s pretend that someone is walking toward you right now with the sole purpose of asking you how they can have a personal relationship with God. What would you say? Get ready today to give an answer for the hope that is within you (see 1 Peter 3:15).

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Blessed Families

1 Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways! 

2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. 

3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. 

4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD. 

5 The LORD bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life! 

6 May you see your children's children! Peace be upon Israel! 

Psalms 128:1-6

The fear of God. Ps.128:1

Take away:

Obey God's word and enjoy God's blessings. 

The man of God. Ps.128:2

Take away:

Work hard to provide for your family for God's glory.

The family of God. Ps.128:3

Take away:

Value our women and children as God's gifts.

The church of God. Ps.128:4-6

Take away:

Assume responsibility for our families in view of God's mission.

Thanks Pastor Jim!

Are You Ashamed of Jesus? Or Will He Be Ashamed of You?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Are you willing to spend and be spent for the Lord today, or are there just too many other things on your agenda? Are you willing, no matter if it causes blood, sweat, and tears, to be used by the Lord, or are you more interested in where you are going to spend your next vacation?

So many of us are chicken when it comes to witnessing for Jesus Christ. We cluck and duck when the subject of God or religion is raised. We hope no one is looking when we ask God to bless our food in a public place.

We need more of the spirit of the saints who are suffering for the sake of the Gospel this very minute in prisons, in torture, in abuse – all because they profess a love for Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38).

ACTION POINT:

God is calling you to leave your comfortable Christianity behind and tell someone that Jesus loves them and wants to save them. Will you do it, or will you be too ashamed? Let this be the year you bring the light of Christ to your dorm, your neighborhood, your apartment building, your baseball team – wherever God has placed you. Let Him use you for His glory!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Out of Our Comfort Zone

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words, of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when He shall come in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:26

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

How much have you suffered because you have named the name of Jesus? Have you refused to budge on an issue that would dishonor His name? Second Timothy 3:12 says, “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”There’s no escaping persecution for true Christians. We will be persecuted when we endeavor to “live godly in Christ Jesus.” 

Now, on the other hand, if you’re not being persecuted, don’t say you must be doing a wonderful job. Very frankly, you’re doing a poor job. Let me ask you: If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Regrettably, most people would have to say no. 

ACTION POINT:

Get out of your comfort zone today. Check into a short-term mission trip; start a Bible Study; witness to your neighbor; take a homeless person to lunch; take a walk in the park and tell someone that Jesus loves them.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers