Are you…Available? Expendable? Adaptable?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Jesus never approved of putting the traditions of men above the Word of God (see Mark 7:1-13). What about you? Are you willing to change your life in order that God may use you, or had you rather hold onto your traditions? There are three qualities I believe every Christian should exhibit: availability, expendability, and adaptability. We need to be walking with the Lord so closely that we ought to be ready to witness at a moment’s notice. It is God’s ability and your availability. It is His power and your personality. It is His work and your witness. That’s God’s plan!

ACTION POINT:

Let’s pretend that someone is walking toward you right now with the sole purpose of asking you how they can have a personal relationship with God. What would you say? Get ready today to give an answer for the hope that is within you (see 1 Peter 3:15).

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Are You Ashamed of Jesus? Or Will He Be Ashamed of You?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Are you willing to spend and be spent for the Lord today, or are there just too many other things on your agenda? Are you willing, no matter if it causes blood, sweat, and tears, to be used by the Lord, or are you more interested in where you are going to spend your next vacation?

So many of us are chicken when it comes to witnessing for Jesus Christ. We cluck and duck when the subject of God or religion is raised. We hope no one is looking when we ask God to bless our food in a public place.

We need more of the spirit of the saints who are suffering for the sake of the Gospel this very minute in prisons, in torture, in abuse – all because they profess a love for Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38).

ACTION POINT:

God is calling you to leave your comfortable Christianity behind and tell someone that Jesus loves them and wants to save them. Will you do it, or will you be too ashamed? Let this be the year you bring the light of Christ to your dorm, your neighborhood, your apartment building, your baseball team – wherever God has placed you. Let Him use you for His glory!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Out of Our Comfort Zone

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words, of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when He shall come in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:26

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

How much have you suffered because you have named the name of Jesus? Have you refused to budge on an issue that would dishonor His name? Second Timothy 3:12 says, “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

There’s no escaping persecution for true Christians. We will be persecuted when  we endeavor to “live godly in Christ Jesus.” Now, on the other hand, if you’re not being persecuted, don’t say you must be doing a wonderful job. Very frankly, you’re doing a poor job. Let me ask you: If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Regrettably, most people would have to say no.

ACTION POINT:

Get out of your comfort zone today. Check into a short-term mission trip; start a Bible Study; witness to your neighbor; take a homeless person to lunch; take a walk in the park and tell someone that Jesus loves them.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Mission of the Church

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” John 13:34

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

A man and his wife were walking through a wheat field in Alberta, Canada, early one evening with their young son. They forgot for a moment that their son was with them, and then suddenly they realized he wasn’t there.

They searched to no avail, and then ran back to the village to get help. Many people returned with the couple to search through the night. Then one man said, “Let’s lock arms and we’ll sweep across the field.” Then there was a cry: “I found him!” And everyone rushed together to the lifeless form of the little fellow who had died of exposure.

I wonder if there are people who are going to slip into a Christ-less eternity because we, as a church, haven’t joined hands soon enough.

ACTION POINT:

What are you doing in your church to welcome newcomers, disciple younger believers, or minister to the needs of others? Ask God to give you opportunities to redeem the 168 hours He has given you this week in selfless acts of love for others.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

In Him-With Him-By Him

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. - John 15:7

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, - John 8:31

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. - John 14:13

Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.  - Psalm 37:4

For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.  - Job 22:26

then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."  - Isaiah 58:14

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. - Philippians 3:1

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. - Philippians 4:4

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. - Matthew 6:33

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  - Psalm 91:1

You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah  - Psalm 32:7

The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand.  - Psalm 121:5

For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall,  - Isaiah 25:4

Each will be like a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land.  - Isaiah 32:2

Abide-Remain, wait

Delight-joy, gladness

Dwell-inhabit, indwell

Hold On with Both Hands

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?” James 2:5

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Are you facing a struggle in your life today? Perhaps there is a decision that you need to make, but don’t know what to do. Friend, let me tell you the way to find what God wants for you.

Take hold of the Lord with both hands and in faith tell Him, “Sink or swim, live or die, once and for all, now and forever, I’m going for You, God.”

John Dryden, the famous English poet, said, “Reason saw not, till faith sprung the light.” Charles Haddon Spurgeon said, “Faith goes up the stairs that love has made and looks out the window which hope has opened.”

ACTION POINT:

You don’t know what God can do through you until you step out in faith. Take that step today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

What Separates You from the Love of God?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:39

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

A historian tells us that after the Spanish Inquisition, Napoleon’s soldiers uncovered a dungeon. They went down into the dungeon and found a skeleton with chains still on it. To their surprise, they looked on the wall and saw a cross. At the apex of the cross, was the word “height.” At the foot of the cross, was the word “depth.” And on either side of the cross were the words “breadth” and “length.” To this prisoner, the cross was a picture of the dimensions of God’s love. God’s love is expansive and everlasting.

ACTION POINT:

Jesus Christ went to the Cross to demonstrate the depth and height, length and breadth of the love of God. God went to extremes to show His love for you. What are you doing today to lead others to Jesus Christ?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers