Finding Your Contentment in Jesus

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“…and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, ‘I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.’” Hebrews 13:5-6.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

As you face the new year, find your contentment in Jesus, your companionship in Jesus, and your confidence in Jesus. Then you’ll find your comfort and your courage in Jesus. When you are contented in Jesus and He is closer to you than any one on earth could possibly be; when you are confident in the midst of trials and testing that He will provide…then, and only then, will you know the courage that comes from His comforting presence.

ACTION POINT:

Pray, “Lord, with all my heart, with all I am, I want to know you. I want our relationship to be close and my faith to grow. Cleanse me and make me new that I may be all that You want me to be this year.”

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

When Opportunity Knocks

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” John 10:9.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

We need to practice the presence of the Lord this coming year. You’re going to be tempted to rush into life because of the fast pace to which society is stepping. Many doors will open for you. Many doors will close. What will you do? 

Remember that through it all, Jesus Christ will be behind each and every door as you seek Him with all your heart. He has promised never to leave you, nor forsake you. When the devil comes and knocks at your heart’s door this next year, simply say, “Jesus, please go answer the door.” The Lord is there with us to take care of us.

ACTION POINT:

When the door of opportunity knocks for you today, reflect on His goodness, His mercy, and His faithfulness. Trust in Him to give you what you need.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Unexpected

Unexpected definition:

Not expected

Synonyms:

Unforeseen, sudden, abrupt

These terms are often used referring to death.

Death is sudden!

Death is tragic!!

Eternity doesn't have to be tragic!

Shouldn't we really think about our eternity?

The physical life span of man is short.

The spiritual life span of man's soul is eternal.

God has secured your spiritual eternity by raising Christ from the dead and making Him our propitiation for sin.

Your gift of salvation was made possible by God's grace and mercy. 

By your testimony of faith in Christ alone! 

By faith in Him who is able to redeem your soul from Hell.

By your repentance from a sinful life to a righteous life resting on God's promise that you are buried with Christ and raised to walk in newness of life.

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.  - Psalm 90:12

The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.  - Psalm 90:10

Jesus Meets the Heart’s Deepest Need

BIBLE MEDITATION:

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” - Philippians 4:11-12

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

When Paul wrote this he was in prison. But he said, “I've learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

The word “content” literally means “self-contained.” We're hearing a lot today about the "r" word, recession. Back in 1929 and 1930 when the stock market crashed, there were men who jumped out of skyscrapers, committing suicide. Why? Because the things they were trying to satisfy their heart with, they lost. That's where their security was. Friend, you’d better have your security, sufficiency and satisfaction in something that can't be tampered with.

ACTION POINT:

Paul continues, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." That literally means, I can do all things through Christ who is pouring His life into me. Learn a life of contentment. Have the contentment of His provision—Christ Himself. The deepest need of your heart can be met in the Lord Jesus Christ.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

All Died In Faith

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. - Hebrews 11:13

Under Sin:

22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.

24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.

25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,

26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. - Galatians 3:22-29

What is the greatest gift that you can give a person?

To share the Gospel!

When we are healed of various diseases here on earth, it is just a glimpse of what God has promised those who love Him!

God has given us a written record of Who He is!

He has given us a written record of what He wants from man!

To know Him, we study the word and pray.

We share Him with the lost world!

This record, we except by faith!

He sent His Son as a Savior for sinners!

The Importance of the Gospel and Your Witness:

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 10:14-17

Deeper Faith:

1 Faith comes by hearing what God says about himself!

2 Faith comes by hearing what God says about life in this world!

3 Faith comes by hearing what God says is valuable!

4 Faith comes by hearing what God says about salvation!

Live By Faith:

10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them."

11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith."

12 But the law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them."

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us-for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"-

14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. - Galatians 3:10-14

Heirs:

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,

5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. - Galatians 4:4-5

Jesus:

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. - Hebrews 12:1-2

God:

28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,

29 for our God is a consuming fire. - Hebrews 12:28-29

Thanks Matt!!

Setting God-Given Goals

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“We ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.” Hebrews 2:1.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Have you ever written some God–given goals to keep you from being a drifter?

Without goals, you’re a ship without a rudder, a compass, a sail and an anchor. What kind of ship is that? One that is doomed to failure. Most people don’t plan to fail. They simply don’t plan. How can you tell whether or not your goal is a God–given goal? 

First, have you prayed over it and asked for God’s blessing?

Second, does it create in you enough spiritual enthusiasm and excitement to see it fulfilled? 

Third, does it demand the very best in you? 

Fourth, does it touch every area of your life? There is no area of your life that is out–of–bounds from God.

ACTION POINT:

Take time today—or surely this week—to write down some goals and even a mission statement focused on the following areas of your life: spiritual, physical, relational, intellectual, and financial.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Setting Sail for a New Year

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Proverbs 29:18.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Helen Keller was born with sight, but became blind as a young child. Yet she had vision. 

A reporter asked Miss Keller, “Is there anything worse than losing your sight?” 

“Yes,” she said, “It is to have sight but no vision.” 

Do you have a vision for your life at the threshold of a new year? On New Year’s Day, I review the goals for my life. These are spiritual, relational, intellectual, physical, and financial goals. I pray over these and ask for God’s will to be done in each one. I hold them in an open hand and ask that God would give me wisdom as to the direction He wants for my life. I don’t want to be a man without vision. I don’t want you to be one, either.

ACTION POINT:

Begin to think about some goals you would like for your life. Pray and seek the Lord’s face as you ponder the future.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers