Staying Focused on God’s Plan for Your Life

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The devil would love to get you distracted and get you off the course on which God has placed you. God has something He wants you to do and you had better not substitute the good for the best. Find out what God wants you to do and refuse to be distracted by the devil. You need to say as the apostle Paul said, “This one thing I do!” Know what it is that God wants you to do and do it with all your strength for His glory!

ACTION POINT:

Take a few minutes to write out a mission statement focusing on “that one thing” (TOT) that you think God has called you to do. Then, post the letters TOT everywhere to remind yourself to stay focused on the calling of God in your life.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Truly Living the Christian Life

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”  Colossians 3:17.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The sign over the church door where I attended as a boy read, “The Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silent.” I mistakenly took that to mean that I had just entered the holy temple and had better start acting religious. We are the temple of God, not a building made of brick and mortar. Wherever we go, whatever we do, we are to be doing all in the name of Jesus. The secular is to be sanctified so that Jesus will be glorified in everything. Because He lives in you, every day is a holy day, not just Sundays. The spiritual life is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for all eternity.

ACTION POINT:

Have you ever had a home appraised? Get a trusted friend or loved one to give you an appraisal of the home where the Holy Spirit dwells—you! Are there areas that need repair, restoration, or removal?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Flourishing in Body, Soul and Spirit

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“…dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves….” 2 Corinthians 7:1.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

You were created to know three worlds—the spiritual, psychological, and material worlds. These can be considered the world above us, the world within us, and the world around us. These worlds are related to the three parts of our human nature—spirit, soul, and body. 

When you are rightly related to the material world with your body, you are healthy. When you are rightly related to the psychological world with your soul, you are happy. And when you are rightly related to the spiritual world in your spirit, you are holy. 

God’s aim is that ultimately you are to experience all three realities: health, happiness, and holiness. 

ACTION POINT:

Take a snapshot inventory of your life. Where do you need to start making changes to live a healthier lifestyle? What is your emotional barometer telling you about how you see others and yourself? Do you know of any area in your life where you are not living in obedience to the call of holy living?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Devil’s Most Prized Tool

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord…” Psalm 25:15.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

There’s a story about the devil auctioning off his tools. He had a high price on pride, laziness, arrogance, hate, envy, and jealousy. But there was one tool that had a sign under it, “Not For Sale.” 

Someone said, “What is that tool and why isn’t it for sale?” 

“Well,” he said, “I can’t afford to get rid of that one. It’s my chief tool, discouragement. With this tool, I can pry open a heart, and once I get in I can do most anything I want.” 

Do you want me to tell you why you get discouraged? I’ll give it to you in a nutshell—you’ve taken your eyes off God! 

ACTION POINT:

Are you discouraged? If not, praise God! And find someone who is so that you can give them the encouragement they need in Jesus Christ. Maybe it’s your next-door neighbor, maybe it’s a coworker, maybe it’s your spouse.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Hope Even In Death

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.  - Psalm 4:8

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. - John 6:63

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,

28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 

29 "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 

30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 

31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."  - Luke 2:25-32

For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.  - Psalm 33:9

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. - Hebrews 11:3

as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"-in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. - Romans 4:17

It's different when a Christian dies.

I mean the dying part is the same because when a human body gives up its spirit, the earthly body ceases it's life.

I'm speaking of a hope that continues even after death. 

That hope is Jesus Christ!

His promise of eternal life through His death and resurrection for all who trust Him gives a hope and joy that death can't destroy!!

So even in the midst of the greatest sorrow of death, we have hope in Christ!!!

Death is the great unknown!

We only have our faith in Christ and God's written word to comfort us!

Death is a great mystery but a bigger mystery still is life after death.

Do you believe you will have eternal life through Christ? 

Or do you believe death is the end?

I pray you will seek God while you have breath!!

The one and only true God is not a religion.

He is sovereign God, who was and is and is to come!!!

He has no beginning, no end and reigns eternally!!! 

Out of invisible things, He made the world, everything in it and the universe!

He spoke and there it was!!!!

Your Invitation 

Christ said "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." - John 12:32"

Your Forgiveness 

13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. - 

Colossians 2:13-14

Your Response???

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