O Death, Where is Thy Sting?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. “1 Corinthians 15:20-22

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

I was about to speak at a funeral. As I wandered through the beautiful flowers, the precious widow walked up and laid her hand on the sleeve of her beloved of more than 50 years. She patted him a couple of times, turned and walked away. I thought to myself, “Is that it?  Is that all there is to life?” 

No!  Death does not have dominion!  Christ is risen! Those who have fallen asleep in Christ have not perished. There is a God who in the form of man, the Lord Jesus Christ, grappled with the iron bars of death and is victorious. Death does not have dominion because Christ arose. He took the gloom out of the grave. He has given us a hope that is steadfast and sure. 

ACTION POINT:

Do you know where you’re going? Have your sins been forgiven?  Are you sure Jesus Christ is in your heart?  If so, bow your head and thank Him, for sin has been subdued, death has been defeated, and your future is secure. You know where you’re headed.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Perfect Sacrifice

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“How much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Hebrews 9:14

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The Lord Jesus lived an amazing life. Do you realize that Jesus never corrected, withdrew, or amended any statement He ever made? I wish I could say that! Jesus Christ never apologized for anything He ever did or said. He never sought advice from anyone, nor ever needed to ask for forgiveness.

Jesus Christ doesn’t have any strong points. For Him to have strong points, He would have to have weak points. Robert Clark has rightly given this assessment of the character of Jesus: “There was meekness without weakness, tenderness without feebleness, firmness without coarseness, love without sentimentality, holiness without sanctimoniousness, lowliness without lowness, truth without error, enthusiasm without fanaticism, passion without prejudice, heavenly‑mindedness without forgetfulness, carefreeness without carelessness, service without servility, self‑exaltation without egotism, judgment without harshness, seriousness without somberness, mercy without softness.”

ACTION POINT:

What a person was the Lord Jesus Christ! Today, embrace the death, burial and resurrection of our Savior with this renewed sense of Who He was—His matchless character. This is the One Who laid down His life for you.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

From Shadow to Eternal Morning

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” 1 Corinthians 15:55

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

There was a great preacher once whose wife died. Their little girl didn’t fully understand all that had happened. But one day while she was in the car with her father, she saw the shadow of a truck passing by. The setting sun made the shadow huge, much bigger than the truck.

The little girl said, “Daddy, look at the big shadow.”

He said, “Sweetheart, would you rather be hit by the shadow of the truck or by the truck?”

“That's easy,” she said, “I'd much rather be hit by the shadow.”

He said, “That's right, darling. And it was only the shadow that hit Mama. The truck hit Jesus two thousand years ago at Calvary.”

That’s why David calls it “the valley of the shadow of death.” Jesus has taken the sting out of death, the dread out of the grave! He has become our victor!

ACTION POINT:

Many people fear death— a shadow looming over each of us, representing the unknown. Yet Jesus disarmed death and took away its power. The believer in Christ can have this assurance: beyond that shadow is the sunlight of the eternal morning. Speak with the Lord right now and share with Him something you fear. He already knows about it anyway. Picture yourself giving that fear over to Him. Place it in the nail-scarred Hand. It is a risen, victorious Hand.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Lamb of God—Your Substitute

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:4-6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: 

Jesus Christ did not die as a martyr.  He was not a helpless victim.  Hce said, “I lay down my life, No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.” (John 10:17-18) The cross was not an accident or an afterthought; it was in the heart and mind of God before the world was framed. Jesus was born in the shadow of the cross.  John the Baptist announced, “Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world.” The Lamb of God died on the same day as the Passover lambs were being slain on Mount Moriah, the very limestone ridge where long ago God had told Abraham, “God will provide Himself a lamb.” Jesus said, “Abraham saw My day, and was glad.” (John 8:56)

To the priests on Mount Moriah, Jesus Christ could say, “Your work is over.  Put away your knives. We need no more lambs, no more sacrifices. The Lamb has died and has paid in full.” 

ACTION POINT:

Take time today to meditate upon the price that was paid for your salvation. Read Matthew chapters 26 and 27. Thank Him for the price that was paid.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Eternal Promises

Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. - Hebrews 12:1-2 believes in me shall never thirst. - John 6:35

16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 

17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."  - 

Revelation 7:16-17

27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal."

28 Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?"

29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." - John 6:27-29

What is the meaning of eternal?

Lasting forever, no beginning or ending

13 "I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 

14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.  - Daniel 7:13-14

From everlasting to everlasting, God is!

He has made a way for you to be eternally with Him.

It is a gift through the blood of Christ which cleanses you so that you may be forgiven!

Will you confess, repent and fall before His throne of mercy?

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