In the Face of Discouragement and Ridicule

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“…He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

One evening I overheard my father and a friend of our family talking. 

“What’s Adrian going to do when he gets out of high school?” 

My dad replied, “Well, he wants to go off to college and study to be a preacher.”

That man just laughed and said, “He won’t make it. He’ll never stick it out. He’ll quit.” 

This was a man that I admired and respected very much. I almost felt like crying. That’s what the world says about Christians, “They won’t stick it out. They won’t make it.” You see, the devil hasn’t changed his tactics. He’s still mocking and throwing cold water on our walks with the Lord. Get ready. If you don’t feel the flames of ridicule now, just wait.

ACTION POINT:

Have you ever told someone that they wouldn’t amount to anything? Has anyone ever told you? Send those lies back to the pit of hell and rest in the promises of His Word that you are deeply loved and bought with the price of the Savior’s own blood.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The First Step to Setting Things Right

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The Lord Jesus said, “Moreover if thy brother trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault” (Matthew 18:15). 

You say, “He’s the one that did wrong. If he wants forgiveness let him come and ask for it.” 

But Jesus said, “No, you go to him.” 

Whether you are in the right or whether you are in the wrong, as a child of God, you are to go to that individual. Isn’t that what God did in the Garden of Eden? Adam and Eve sinned against God and the Bible tells us that God came looking for them: “Adam, where art thou?” That was not the voice of a detective. That was the voice of a God Who pursues us to forgive us.

ACTION POINT:

Stop right now and ask God to show you if you have an unforgiving spirit toward someone. Then, in His power and strength, call that person and ask his/her forgiveness. It’s going to be impossible in your strength, but remember, God does the impossible.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Imperfections or Infirmities

Labels! These definitely hurt others but the facts are; we all have labels applied to us.

Male or female, boy or girl, black or white, skinny or chubby, red or black hair, Christian or non-believer, etc.

Judgement of others!

Perception of judging, such as pointing out sin.

There can be physical or mental imperfections.

Definition of imperfection:

Flawed

Here are some synonyms of imperfection:

Scarred, defect, deformity, disfigurement etc 

Physical imperfections, you were most likely born with them but not always. Sometimes your actions or the action of others cause them. Sovereign God has allowed them.

Mental imperfections, you can be born with one but sometimes they are directly caused by your actions of alcohol consumption, or perhaps some would argue environmental poisons and most definitely drug abuse.

As we age, we can have dementia or Alzheimer's.

We can be injured. 

What if: 

The child with autism holds the keys to cure cancer?

The old person with dementia could soothe the ache of loneliness that orphans have.

The wounded soldier creates some wonderful invention that changes our lives for the better. 

We want perfect people in an imperfect world! God created this world to be a paradise and Satan has corrupted it! So, what can we do? Trust God! Trust Him to change you. Trust Him for salvation! 

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. - Genesis 1:31

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love - Ephesians 1:4

Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. - 1 John 3:2

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. - Philippians 3:20-21

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope

21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?

25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. - Romans 8:18-25

Our Hope

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." - Revelation 21:1-4

God's Provision In Your Life

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Give us this day our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

A philosopher once said, “To whom little is not enough, nothing is enough.” 

I know what I want and I know what you want. I want to have some money in the bank and I want to have something there so that when tomorrow comes, then I don’t have to worry about it. Isn’t that what you want? We call that security. 

Question: is that really security? Who is more secure – the man who has a warehouse full of stale bread that the rats or thieves can get, or the man who has a father who is a very, very rich baker?

ACTION POINT:

Begin your prayer time today with the Lord’s Prayer and ask Him to help you be content. Bow before Him in humble adoration of His provision in your life. Then share the Bread of Life with someone who is hungry today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Faith Without Works Is Dead

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” James 2:26 .

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

When you ask God for something, do you just sit back and do nothing and say, “Well, I’m going to show my faith by doing nothing.”? To the contrary, you will show your faith by doing something. For faith without works is what? Dead! (see James 2:20) 

Do you want a house? Pray for it. Then say “Amen” with a hammer and saw. 

Do you want a wife? Pray for one. Then go shave, put on some cologne, learn some manners, and learn how to be thoughtful and loving.

ACTION POINT:

What have you been praying earnestly about the last week? What is your heart’s desire? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how you can put feet to that prayer. Then, walk the talk!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Praying, "Thy Will Be Done On Earth..."

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.” Matthew 6:9-10.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

When you pray, “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done . . . on earth as it is in heaven” do you realize that this prayer has not yet been answered, but it will be answered? 

Jesus Christ is literally, actually, visibly, bodily coming back to this earth. Do you believe that? Do you think that Jesus Christ would have taught us to pray this prayer if it would not have been answered? His kingdom has not come yet on earth. His will is not being done on earth. But it shall be; it will be because our Lord taught us to pray that.

ACTION POINT:

When you read or watch the news today, how do you see God’s will not being done on earth? Ask the Lord that His will would be brought to earth – praying for the people involved in each story for their welfare and their salvation.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

How To Know The Will Of God

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Do you want to know the will of God in your life? Here’s a test: how much time do you spend reading the Bible? Do you think God really believes we want to know His will when we don’t take even 15 minutes a day to read the one book above all books that God has specifically written to show you His will, to reveal His will to you, to unfold His will to you? 

Your first step in knowing His will is the surrender principle—surrendering our will to His. Your second step is the scripture principle. Read His word, meditate upon it, share it, and study it. When you bow to His will and read His will, you’ll know His will.

ACTION POINT:

Commit to read God’s Word at least 15 minutes a day for 30 days. When the month is over, re¬evaluate what you have learned and ask God to help you be obedient to daily Bible reading from this day forward.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers