Those Slaps Do Sting

Slaps, whether physical or mental do sting! 

The physical one stings your body but the mental one stings your heart!

I have a terrible temper. It is something I struggle with daily. God will not forgive a heart full of spite. I must keep my anger away for the glory of the Lord. He alone will repay every hostile deed. 

38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'

39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. - Matthew 5:38-39

22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.

23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. - 1 Peter 2:22-24

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.  - Isaiah 53:7

But, O LORD of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause.  - Jeremiah 11:20

The sting of death kills the body eternally but the sting of unrepentant sin kills the soul eternally.

A Blessing for Fathers on Father’s Day

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in His ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord. The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Yea, and thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Jerusalem.” Psalm 128

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

I am convinced that America’s families will not be changed until the dads in America are changed. The key is the father. God has given us a survival manual, and it begins with the father. He is to be a God-fearing, hard-working, worshipping man of God. He is to be bold, but he must also truly fear God. 

What is the fear of God? Not a cringing dread of God, but love on its knees. And I am convinced that the man who fears God the most loves God the best.

Dads, your children need to see the fear of God in your life. I’ve made an observation of fathers. Do you know what makes a good dad? He is a man who is both strong and tender at the same time. Strong, but not afraid to hug, to kiss, to love, to speak softly and gently to the children. 

ACTION POINT:

These children of yours are like olive plants round about your table. Dads, if you will do this, if you will put the emphasis upon your family, we are going to see good in this nation again.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Faithful in Your Words

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.” James 5:12 

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

In June we take time to focus on fathers, and I’ve discovered in talking with teenagers that many of them harbor bitterness and resentment. Much of that resentment is directed toward their fathers over the serious matter of broken promises. If you’re a dad who wants to restore your relationship with your teenager, one of the best things you can do is to remember those broken promises. Then go to them with a remorseful spirit and say, “I’ve asked God to forgive me, and I want you to forgive me.” Ask this question, “Have I ever made a promise to you that I’ve failed to keep? If so, I want you to tell me because I want to repent. I want you to believe that your dad is a faithful man.”

ACTION POINT:

Are you a man of your word? If not, start fresh today and make a commitment that you will stand behind your word. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Things of Value

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Glory and honor are in His presence; strength and gladness are in His place.” 1 Chronicles 16:27

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

I heard about a little girl who loved her daddy so much she wanted to do something very special for him for Christmas. She decided to make him some house slippers. She went up to her bedroom every evening and worked. The times that she used to sit in her father's lap and talk disappeared. For months she worked alone. Finally, she came down on Christmas Day with those slippers and presented them to her father. 

He was appreciative of her nice gift. But he thought to himself, “How much more I would have valued her time just sitting in my lap and being with me than I value these slippers.” 

ACTION POINT:

Jesus values the time you spend with Him far more than the things you do for Him. Learn to sit at the feet of Jesus.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

God Already Knows

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.” Genesis 22:13

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

I don't know what your problem is today, but God already knows the answer. 

Abraham thought he had a problem when he was going up to sacrifice Isaac. He didn't know how his need was going to be met. But the moment Abraham started up one side of that mountain with Isaac, on the other side, a ram started up—the ram that was going to be the substitute for Isaac. 

Abraham never saw the ram, but God saw it. And I want to tell you, God knows a way for you. God has a plan for you—a plan for all of us.

ACTION POINT:

God's children are never to panic. Worry is an insult to Almighty God. Trust God—He already knows.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

A Depraved Diet

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver.” 2 Kings 6:25

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
A depraved diet was the mark in this day of famine, and a depraved diet is the mark in our day. Only today, we have a spiritual famine.

Today we're feeding on all sorts of depravity and filth. Do you know why millions of Americans are feeding on a depraved diet? Do you know why pornographic magazines are read by so many? Do you know why people are going to see these sick movies and so-called adult films? Why these dens of iniquity, these things they call night clubs, are filled with people? Because there's a famine for the Word of God. And anytime a man, a woman, a boy or girl is not properly fed, he will have a depraved diet.

ACTION POINT:
How do you change your diet and keep from doing these things? Not primarily by saying, “I'm going to be a good boy.” Load up on the Word of God. Feast on the honey, the milk, the meat of God’s Word.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Christ Is the Way to Holiness

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Gal.2:20

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Here is one of the greatest secrets of living a victorious life that I know anything about: holiness is not the way to Christ—Christ is the way to holiness.

Many times we think, “If I could pray enough, live purely enough, study my Bible thoroughly enough, or get my life holy enough, that would bring me closer to Jesus. It would bring me into a relationship with Him.”

But not so! It is Jesus Christ Who enables you to pray. It is Jesus Christ Who enables you to study the Bible. It is Jesus Christ Who enables you to live the pure life. Holiness is not the way to Christ—Christ is the way to holiness.

ACTION POINT:
Claim now the fullness of God’s power. Just as Elisha was identified with Elijah, so you must be identified with the Lord Jesus Christ. The way to be like Him is to see Him and to worship Him and praise Him. Then you’re changed; you are made like Him. You become like what you spend time with.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers