From Crimson to Wool, from Scarlet to White

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Have you ever done something so awful that you are serving or have served time in prison? Maybe you murdered someone, abused a child, embezzled money, or raped someone. To many, you are a heinous criminal and the judicial system has declared you have no redeeming value to humanity. Well, I’m here to tell you, God can change all that.

God says, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18b). Every blur, every blemish, every stain that ever came upon your soul can be cleansed by the blood of Jesus.

ACTION POINT:

Jesus said, “All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). Jesus will save you if you ask Him.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Clothed with the Righteousness of Christ

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” Philippians 3:9

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

A woman worked as a maid in the house of a mean innkeeper. One day God saved her and she could not hide her happiness. What used to be drudgery turned into joy. The innkeeper was furious and began to belittle her. He hated her for being happy.

Finally, he said to her, “You say you’re saved and I can see your happiness. Can you tell me what being saved means?”

And she said, “To me, it feels as though I am standing in Jesus’ shoes, and He is standing in mine.” A theologian couldn’t have said it better.

2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

ACTION POINT:

Have you come to realize that, in Jesus, you have been made “the righteousness of God”? It is the gift of God, in Him.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

God May

Your direction, questions, sliding into unbelief, then your center changes, no bible reading and finally no longer attending church.

What is this?

Soul-sickness!

Examine your heart!

What is your truth?

Do you even believe in God?

Are you being deceived by Satan?

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. - John 8:44

in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience- - Ephesians 2:2

and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. - 2 Thessalonians 2:10

God can grant repentance!

24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,

25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,

26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. - 2 Timothy 2:24-26

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. - James 3:17

Be humble!

Be hopeful!

Be patient!!!

Thank you Pastor John!!!

Lavish Love

Definition of lavish

Super abundant, without limit

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight

9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ

10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. - Ephesians 1:7-14

13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. - Colossians 1:13-14

30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

31 so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." - 1 Corinthians 1:30-31

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. - Acts 20:28

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? - Romans 2:4

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. - 1 John 3:1

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. - 1 John 3:16

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8

Are you with the world, giving yourself over to what the world offers?

Or are you following the Lord, giving yourself over to being obedient to His commands?

If you dismiss this great gift of lavish love, you are foolish!!!

The Picture of Being Holy

Definition of holy

Set apart for God, sacred, dedicated to God

15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

16 since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." - 1 Peter 1:15-16

And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. - 1 John 3:3

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. - 2 Corinthians 7:1

For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. - 1 Thessalonians 4:7

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. - Hebrews 12:14

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. - James 3:13

Definition of pure

Spotless

He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.  - Psalm 24:4

Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.  - Proverbs 20:11

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. - 1 Timothy 1:5

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. - James 3:17

Jesus set this example.
He was holy and sinless.
We strive for this, we long for this, but in this body we can not attain it.
Some day we will be glorified by His promise.
We will be completed by His blood.
Until then, we have the gift of repentance bestowed on us by way of the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
Will you repent? 
Forgive us Lord according to Your great mercy!!! 

“Wash Me, Savior, Or I Die”

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.” Romans 4:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The same year America declared its independence from England, Augustus Toplady wrote a song declaring complete dependence upon God. He penned, “Rock of Ages.” The third verse declares, “Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to the cross I cling; Naked, come to Thee for dress; Helpless, look to Thee for grace; Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash me, Savior, or I die.”

It’s hard sometimes to let go of our sins AND our righteous deeds in order to completely trust in God for our salvation.

Did you know there is something about human nature that doesn’t want to do this? We want to somehow help God with our good deeds. And yet “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6b).

ACTION POINT:

Lay your knapsack of righteous works at His feet. Pray, “God makes us righteous. Wash me, Savior, or I die.”

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Only Thing That Will Save You

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” Titus 3:5

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Paul said, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Philippians 3:7-8).

What does Paul mean by loss? He means that even good things are bad things if they become a substitute for the best thing. Suppose you are on a plane trip. The plane is going down and you grab your knapsack instead of your parachute and jump out. Is the knapsack bad? No, it’s just not the best choice to save your life!

The worst form of badness may be human goodness when that human goodness becomes a substitute for the new birth.

ACTION POINT:

No knapsack full of “works of righteousness” will save you. Cast yourself completely upon the work of redemption—the work of the cross. You cannot add to what Jesus did.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers