Tempted, But Not Beyond What We Can Bear

BIBLE MEDITATION:
 “For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” Psalm 103:14

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
A factory mechanic builds a truck. He knows the chassis of that truck and knows the load it can carry. In the same way, God knows your frame and He knows the load you can carry.

God is faithful; He will not allow you to be tempted above that which you are able. Nothing comes to you but that which comes through God. Even what Satan does, he can only do as God allows it. You can say, “The temptation was so strong I couldn’t overcome it,” but it won’t be true. God will provide a way of escape.

ACTION POINT:
When you are tempted today (notice I didn’t say “if” but “when”), ask God to provide a way of escape. Then trust His way and obey.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Dealing With Doubt in the Midst of Trials

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

When something bad happens to us, we may respond with, “What did I do? I must have done something terrible.” Then we proceed down the trail of morbid introspection or what I call “navel gazing.” We look down and into ourselves. We take ourselves apart piece by piece, examining and re-examining ourselves. Then we put ourselves back together trying to figure out what we did wrong.

It may be that you have done absolutely nothing wrong, but God is simply testing your faith. If we don’t understand this, you see, we may get discouraged.

The seeds of doubt and discouragement sprout in the soil of ignorance.

ACTION POINT:

Claim the promises of 1 Peter 1:3-9 for strength in the midst of your trial.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Sweetest Picture of Biblical Community, Love and Suffering Together

His name was Bennett.

He was 24 days old when he died.

Who could know that such a tiny soul could become the epitome of Christian community loving someone through their suffering.

I have never witnessed such an outpouring of love for one who was here such a short time.

His family is so loving and caring to all who are blessed to know them.

They have effected so many people with their kindness.

Even in the midst of terrible suffering, they are praising God!!

They know there is a bigger picture!

They know God knows all things! 

They know God is good in all circumstances!

Our hearts ache for this precious family and the path of heartbreak they must walk.

I can't help but think of the empty arms of this mother and grandmother!

The deepest hurt ever possible is that of a child lost.

We will stand with them, praying God's peace, loving them and repeating this story to many. Hopefully and prayerfully, it will stir a soul to fall before Christ and confess their sin.

This surely shows how life is quickly taken and eternity comes in a swift moment!!

I wonder if this was God's thoughts as he lost His innocent only Son to the Cross?

What is your eternity going to be?

When Christ died, he began to draw all men to him! 

He is perusing you! 

He has given man the greatest gift!

Freedom in Christ, you will be free indeed!

Come as you are!

He will forgive you!

He will change you!

He will reconcile you to holy God!

You will be blessed!

Your eternity will be with Him!

What Christ has done by dying on the cross!

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

having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. - Colossians 2:12

The body!

and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. - Colossians 2:19

15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. - Ephesians 4:15-16

9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,

10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. - Colossians 2:9-10

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!  - Psalm 133:1

4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,

5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. - Romans 12:4-5

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. - Hebrews 10:24-25

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:2

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.

14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Our plea!

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! 

2 O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! 

3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 

4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. 

5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;  - Psalm 130:1-5

God will be glorified!!

10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. 

11 For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.  - Isaiah 48:10-11

12 "Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last. 

13 My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand forth together.  - Isaiah 48:12-13

5 And now the LORD says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him- for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength- 

6 he says: "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."  - Isaiah 49:5-6

Are We Taking His Name in Vain?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy.” Isaiah 57:15

“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain” (Exodus 20:7).

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

We all know that profanity is one way that you can take God’s name in vain, but I’ll tell you another way, and that’s in frivolous talk. That is, just taking the name of God carelessly or lightly.

Ephesians 5:4 mentions “foolish jesting.” What does that mean? God’s name is holy. We are never, ever to use His name unless we are serious. Now if you use humor to illustrate something, that’s fine, but it’s repugnant to use the Holy name of God frivolously.

ACTION POINT:

Begin the day by meditating on the holiness of God.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.” Mark 11:22

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

I ask some Christians, “How are you doing?” They say, “Okay—under the circumstances.” How did you ever get there?

Circumstances are like a mattress. You’re supposed to be on it, not under it. Under the circumstances, you suffocate; on them you rest pretty well.

The only way you can run the race is to take your eyes off things or people around you and look to Jesus. He’s the author of the race. He’s the goal to which you run. If you look to Jesus to supply your every need for the race, you’ll find faith growing in your heart and in your life. You see, it’s not great faith in God; it is faith in a great God.

ACTION POINT:

Do you have a hymnal in your home? Find the hymn “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” by Helen Lemmel and make it your anthem today!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Thanking God for Godly Mothers

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” Exodus 20:12

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

One time I had the privilege of speaking with the 41st President of the United States, George H. W. Bush, about his salvation and personal relationship with Christ and prayed with him about that. He looked me in the eyes and said, “I want to tell you, my mother was the most godly person I have ever known.”  He then went on to tell me about her influence in his life.

Abraham Lincoln said, “All that I am or ever hope to be I owe to my angel mother.” This time every year we celebrate our mothers. Oh, the power of a mother’s love!

Do you know what children need? A – B – C:

Acceptance

Belonging

Confidence

ACTION POINT:

Thank God for magnificent mothers! Thank God for the impact of godly mothers in the lives of children.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

More Than Fair-Weather Christianity

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “If we believe not, yet He abides faithful: He cannot deny Himself.”  2 Timothy 2:13

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Are you a fair-weather Christian? There are some who, if their children get sick, will stop tithing. If they get a bad report from the doctor, they stop praising. If somebody hurts their feelings, they stop going to church.

You can tell the commitment level of a Christian by their “fair weather” gauge.

The test is, when everything goes wrong or doesn’t add up, what will you do?

I’ll give you some hints. Keep giving. Keep praying. Keep praising. Keep witnessing. Keep worshipping. Don’t fail to be faithful.

ACTION POINT:

Think of three things you can do today to bring the light of God’s Son to someone who may be struggling with his or her faith. Then go do it!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers