The Place Of Calvary

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.” Luke 23:33

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Jesus carried our sin to the cross. The spot where that happened was Calvary, also called Golgotha—the same spot known as Mt. Moriah where in Genesis Abraham offered Isaac to God. Mt. Moriah, the temple mount, and Calvary are all on the same limestone ridge—all the same mountain.

Centuries before Christ was born, God told Abraham, the brightest star in the Hebrew heaven, “Abraham, I want you to take your son, your only son, the son that you love, the son of promise, to a place I will show you. Not just any place—a certain place. And there you are to offer your son.” That spot is the very spot where one day, centuries later, Jesus Christ would be crucified.

For Abraham and Isaac, a ram caught in a thicket provided the substitute. There was no such substitute for Jesus Christ—for He was our Substitute.

ACTION POINT:

Meditate today on what it cost God the Father to sacrifice His only Son on Calvary’s mountain and what it cost the Lord Jesus to be that “ram caught in the thicket” for us. Let what God the Father provided—and what His Son did for you—sink into the deepest part of your heart. “I will praise Him, Praise the lamb for sinners slain. Give Him glory, all ye people, for His blood can wash away each stain.”

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

I've Got You

9 you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, "You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off"; 

10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  - Isaiah 41:9-10

God has chosen you!

He will never leave you!

He will pursue you! 

His word will cut through your sin reaching your heart and bringing you to your knees!

Calling from the beginning to the end!

Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.  - Isaiah 41:4

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." - Revelation 1:8

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last,

18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. - Revelation 1:17-18

My Soul Is Overwhelmed

 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” NIV Mark 14:34

This is the way of all human beings, our feelings of being overwhelmed, in an array of situations. These verses are Jesus showing human emotions as He is facing the depth of what He must do and what sinful man has done to Him. His rejection by men, impending betrayal by one of His own disciples and the coming crucifixion. 

  

35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." - Mark 14:35-36

Jesus identifies with us. He was overwhelmed, He was tempted, He felt the sting of death because of our sin, He was counted with thieves and murderers as He faced the Cross, He felt the separation from His Father God as the weight of our sin was poured out on Him, and He suffered knowing He was guiltless.

He willingly suffered in our place! According to His great mercy He was obedient even to the point of death. 

Do you understand the victory that was won for you? Have you counted the cost? Do you daily walk with Him? 

Our time is short! Repent! Know the gift of His life, His death, His resurrection, His salvation, His victory over death, Satan and Hell. Endlessly praise Him for He alone is worthy!

You can't know Him without grasping that you will die in sin and be forever lost unless you fall before Him for mercy. He will know your heart, He will give you forgiveness. You must intimately know Him by the study of His word, applying that word to your life, teaching it, sharing it and obeying it.

Will you humbly receive grace by faith through Christ alone?

Utterly Priceless

What price would you put on salvation?

It is so costly, so precious, and so powerful that it's worth can't be determined!

Definition of priceless-so precious that it's value can't be determined

Definition of propitiation-atonement or payment

Definition of omnipotent-able to do anything, having unlimited power 

Definition of wherewithal-necessary means

Salvation is priceless!

Salvation is the sweetest gift of forgiveness and unmerited eternal life.

That's right, it's was freely given by Christ to you!

Salvation can't be purchased!

Salvation can't be earned!

Salvation was a single selfless act, ordained by merciful Almighty God through His obedient Son, Jesus Christ!!!

Jesus, who knew no sin became your propitiation!

Without this free gift, you will go to Hell!

There is no other means by which you may receive eternal life except by the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus!

Our hope is faith in Christ!

Faith is professed in that Christ is God's only Son, that He died, that He is risen and is seated at the right hand of God, interceding on our behalf.

Man will be without excuse because it is evident in what we see, human body forming from tiny cells, sun, moon, planets being held by nothing,!invisible air that supports life, etc. and that there is a God who is Creator of all things.

On are recent trip to the Gulf of Mexico, I stood overlooking the ocean and was reminded of  God's omnipotence. There is no way man with his many limitations, could  ever have the wherewithal to create the ocean. If you watch the waves that seemingly appear from nowhere crashing violently with such force and then they return to their unknown place only to do it all over again. I stand amazed in His presence and am utterly astounded by His creation!

To believe or not to believe is just not an option when your eyes are opened to the wonder that is God, His unlimited power, His unlimited glory, and His amazing unmerited mercy toward man.

If you are searching, if you are feeling lost and held captive by sin, just pray to Him for your eyes to be opened, read His word for conviction, read His word for life, go and sin no more, fall before His throne of grace and be amazed at His mercy!

Come as you are, He will change you!

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

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved- 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, - Ephesians 2:4-6

5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. - 1 Timothy 2:5-6

8 "Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, 9 when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, 10 and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, 11 and said, 'Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed'?  - Job 38:8-11

19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. - Romans 1:19-20

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.  2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, 5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.  6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.  - Psalm 19:1-9

30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead." - Acts 17:30-31

25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" 27 She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world." - John 11:25-27

The Just for the Unjust

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God …” 1 Peter 3:18

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

A Roman soldier walked down a narrow corridor in a Roman prison. He held the torch up, and back in the shadows was a man. The guard with his key opened the door and said, “Barabbas, get up and come with me.” Barabbas began to plead, “No, wait, don’t take me! Have mercy!” The Roman soldier said, “You’re not going to die; there’s somebody else who’s going to die in your place. Come here. Look over on that hill. That’s the cross we made for you. But there’s someone else on it. He has taken your place.”

In what happened to Barabbas, God arranged a perfect picture of substitution — the just dying for the unjust that He might bring us to Himself.

ACTION POINT:

Take time today to tell the Lord Jesus Christ how much you love Him and how grateful you are that He stepped out of glory and became obedient unto death—even the death of the Cross—for your sake and mine.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Cursed

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“And unto Adam He said…cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.” Genesis 3:17

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The crown of thorns Jesus wore—what does it speak of? It symbolizes the curse upon humanity, on you, on me, on us all, because of sin. When God created mankind and put him in the Garden of Eden, there were no thorns. A curse came upon Adam and Eve because they sinned and disobeyed God. The thorn, the thistle, are the result of the curse of sin upon humanity.  Jesus wore a crown of thorns because He bore that curse…the hardship, sorrow, and death that come with sin.

Are you having heartaches? Are you having sorrow? Do you know sickness? The thorny pathway we walk is because of sin. The bed of briars we sleep on is because of sin.

ACTION POINT:

Who is taking care of your sin today? Who is paying the price for it? Is it under the blood? Are you trusting Christ alone for that?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Victory Is Just a Prayer Away

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Uphold me according unto Thy Word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.” Psalm 119:116

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Paul did much of his writing from a prison cell. Maybe you also feel like you are in a prison of sorts today with every door shut in your face. Maybe you are in a prison of despair and doubt. Perhaps you just heard from the doctor and received a bad report, or are dreading a visit this week. Maybe you’re in a financial prison of debt or a domestic prison of abuse and you feel there is no way out. Friend, I want to tell you that there is a way out for you. God is still on His throne. He hears and answers every prayer.

Victory over your situation is just a prayer away. The circumstances may not change, but your perspective and attitude will change as you begin to pray and praise God. You and I don’t have a need that God cannot meet.

ACTION POINT:

Pray this prayer today: “Father, I need You. I need You to forgive me where I have failed You. I need You to change my heart and strengthen my faith so I see my prison as a palace. Change my attitude from dread to joy, from jealousy to contentment, from worry to trust. I love You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers