Would You Turn Down a Pardon?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:28

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

In 1829 George Wilson was adjudicated guilty and given the death sentence for murder. But Wilson had some friends who petitioned President Andrew 

Jackson for a pardon. 

Jackson granted the pardon, and it was brought to prison and given to Wilson. To everyone’s surprise, Wilson said, “I am going to hang.” 

There had never been a refusal to a pardon, so the courts didn’t know what to do. Discussion went all the way to the Supreme Court, and Justice John 

Marshall gave this ruling: “A pardon is a piece of paper, the value of which depends upon the acceptance by the person implicated. If he does not accept the 

pardon, then he must be executed.” 

God loves you and wants to pardon you, but if you refuse Him, you will die and go to hell. Cast yourself upon Him completely, and receive the free gift of His 

forgiveness today.

ACTION POINT:

Have you repented of your sin and believed upon the atoning work of Christ’s blood on the cross? Being good doesn’t get you to heaven. It is only Jesus.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Soul Winners, God's Spiritual Warriors

They are many in number!

They come from all walks of life!

Rich men, poor men, wounded in spirit, and some with broken bodies but they all have a common trait!

They worship a risen Savior, Christ the Lord!!

Some we are blessed to know! 

Others we will only meet in Heaven!

While all WERE born sinners, most of us come from loving parents that taught respect and the consequence of a sinful life!

While others come from a background of challenge, from an insurmountable amount of sin all around them and the truth be told, if we had walked in their shoes, we could have very well crumbled under the weight of sin!

Praises and shouts of worship to a merciful Most High God for the gift of unmerited grace and the blessing we received through Christ for the forgiveness of sin!

I'm saying this to say, every once in a while there comes along a man, just a good ole country boy, who never missed an opportunity to speak of the love Christ showed sinful man and the effect it will have on his eternity!!!

His mission was to tell you and I that without Christ, we are doomed to Hell for eternity!

The man of whom I speak died last week!

As with all Christ followers, he wanted no accolades!

He lived his life knowing praise and worship only belongs to God for He alone is worthy!!!

He lived life TOTALLY resting on Christ for salvation!!

His family and friends mourn his passing but we know by his repeated words of faith that salvation comes through the blood of Christ alone!!!

Friend, did know that Christ is pursuing you? 

He died for you!!

Grace and faith are marvelous gifts that should not be ignored!!

Where you spend eternity depends on it!!

Bow before the blood stained Cross of Christ for salvation, regeneration, forgiveness, restoration, and redemption!!!

Be that person who is assured that the last breath here on Earth will be followed by your first breath in the presence of our sweet Savior, Jesus!!!

Hallelujah, our God reigns forever!!!

12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.

13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?"

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. - Romans 10:12-17

Lord, speak to the hearts of those who are not searching for You, forgive them, open their eyes to hope that comes from Christ alone. Amen

Purchased at a Precious Price

“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” - 1 Corinthians 6:20

Matthew 26:28 says, “For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” 

The word “testament” is from the Greek word diatheke, which means “covenant.” Christ has purchased us with His blood. We have entered into a covenant with Him. The church is the bride, He is the bridegroom. We are betrothed to Him in a covenant bought with His blood.

Samuel J. Stone wrote these powerful words in a hymn we sing in our church,

“The Church’s One Foundation.”— “From heaven He came and sought her to be His holy bride; With His own blood He bought her, and for her life He died.”

Let this powerful truth sink deep into your heart today. Meditate on what it meant that Jesus came and sought you, then bought you with His blood.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

”…to Live is Christ…to Die is Gain”

“And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise.” - Luke 23:43

I read about a man who was on an airplane in a bad storm. Even the flight attendant was nervous. But there was a little lady humming “Blessed Assurance.” She seemed to be at ease. This man said to her, “Lady, aren’t you afraid?” She replied, “Not at all. I’ve given my heart to Jesus Christ. Not so long ago, I had a daughter who died. She was a radiantly beautiful Christian and is now in heaven. I have another daughter who’s in Denver, where this airplane is going. But, I tell you the truth. It really doesn’t make much difference to me which daughter I visit.”

Jesus told a man on a bloody cross, “Today you’ll be with Me in paradise.”

If you were to die today, where would you spend eternity? And what about your family?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Surely Goodness and Mercy Shall Follow Me

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” - Psalm 23:6

Goodness and mercy will pursue you all the days of your life. That’s what the word “follow” literally means in Psalm 23:6—to pursue.

Jesus pursued you with His call of salvation, and He will continue to pursue you. His goodness and mercy are like two sheep dogs that follow the flock to assure there is safe journey to the Shepherd’s final destination.

How many times have you questioned God’s provision in your life and wondered if He really cared for you? Well, there's no question here. It says surely, not hopefully. Yes, you and I will stumble, but He will pick us up.

How would you live differently today if you knew that grace and mercy were going to follow your every step? How would you treat others?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Come This Morning to the Cleansing Basin

BIBLE MEDITATION:

"Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin." Psalm 51:2

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Before a priest could enter the Holy of Holies, he had to stop by the basin and wash his hands and feet. He had already been washed from head to toe, but there is no floor in the tabernacle, only dirt. This final preparation before he entered God’s presence was to symbolize the washing away of the defilement of this world.

As you and I come into contact with the world, we are going to become defiled. We don’t need a bath all over. We are already saved. But each day we must ask God to search our hearts and cleanse us from our sins.

ACTION POINT:

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if each of us came into the presence of God as seriously as the Old Testament priests? We should. Have you been to the cleansing basin this morning?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Are You Sitting on the Lukewarm Fence?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

"According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death." Philippians 1:20

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

May God help us today in the midst of our lukewarm apathy toward the things that matter most to Him! If it’s worth anything, it’s worth everything. May God forgive those who will not go the second mile.

Now, in some things moderation is good, like eating, rest, recreation, exercise, and finances. But when it comes to spiritual warfare, moderation is a sin. When it comes to believing the Bible, moderation is a sin. When it comes to loving the Lord, moderation is a sin!

Suppose a wife asked her husband, "Honey, do you love me?" And he said, "Well, moderately." She’d fix his wagon, don’t you think? 

ACTION POINT:

Friend, if the world considers you a "moderate" when it comes to your Christianity, you are riding the fence of lukewarmness.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers