Satisfied Just Skimming The Surface?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.” John 14:21

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

A little boy fell out of bed and was crying. His mother came, picked him up, and said, “Honey, what’s wrong? How did you fall out of bed?” He said, “Well, I guess I went to sleep too close to where I got in.”

I think there are a lot of people who have done exactly that. They get into Christ and somehow they just seem to go to sleep right there. They say, “I’m saved and that’s it.” But friend, that’s not it. It’s just the beginning of a relationship that will last through all eternity.

ACTION POINT:

God wants to move you further into a knowledge of Himself. I don’t know about you, but I’m not satisfied with the status quo of my life. I want to go deep into the heart of Jesus. I desire the same for you.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The Greatest Event In Human History

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Seven hundred years before the first Christmas, Isaiah dipped his pen in golden glory and wrote these words about the coming Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ. “A child is born” speaks of His virgin birth. “A Son is given” speaks of His eternality—He has been the Son of God, with the Father, through the ages.

Some years ago—you may remember it—man first stepped onto the moon. The President of the United States said, “The planting of human feet upon the moon is the greatest event in human history.”

No, the greatest event in human history was when God came to Earth and planted His feet here. We call that the incarnation—Almighty God stepped out of Heaven, the ivory palaces, into this world of woe, and put His feet upon this earth. And that is the greatest event in human history!

ACTION POINT:

The first Christmas, God sent a package to earth, a gift of deity wrapped up in humanity. What a marvelous thing this is. It’s supernatural. Share this with someone you know today and never forget it: Jesus is God in human flesh.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

God’s Large Down Payment—for You

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” 2 Corinthians 1:22

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

What does this mean, that God has given us the “earnest of the Spirit in our hearts”?  When a man in Jesus’ day intended to buy something he couldn’t afford to purchase at that moment, he would put down “earnest” money. The greater the down payment, the greater the indication that full payment will be made.

For instance, if you’re selling your home for $100,000 and a prospective buyer gives you $5, don’t look for that person again. But if he gives you $50,000, he means business, and you know he’s coming back.

In today’s terminology, we would say that God has given us a down payment of the Spirit.

ACTION POINT:

Do you think God is going to forfeit His Holy Spirit? No. God is not going to forsake you!  He has too much invested in you!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Always Be Ready to Give an Answer

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” 1 Peter 3:15

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your faith. In seminary, we call this “apologetics.” Contrary to what you might think, this does not mean you are to apologize for your faith! Instead, “apologetics” comes from the Greek word that means “to give a defense, as in front of a judge.”

Can you defend your faith? It is not enough for you to demonstrate your faith; you must also defend your faith. If you ran into someone who was dying, and he asked you to share your faith with him, could you? You need to be ready.

You need to also be reasonable. You need to study God’s Word and know what it says about salvation, sin, heaven, and hell. Are you ready?

ACTION POINT:

If not, get ready today. There’s no better time.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Thankful When You’re Counting Pennies

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds' feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places.” Habakkuk 3:17-19

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

In Habakkuk’s day, there was an economic recession. There were no cows in the barn. “Yet…” he writes. Oh, how I love that “yet” in verse 18. “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will joy in the God of my salvation.” Where was his joy? In the Lord, not circumstances.

If you depend on circumstances, you can’t say “rejoice always,” because circumstances change. You lose your job. You lose your health. You lose your friends. You lose your prestige. If that’s where you’re getting your joy, and that changes, you can’t say, “Yet will I rejoice.” But Habakkuk said, “Yet will I joy in the God of my salvation.”

Where are you getting your joy? From the Lord? I hope you are. There’s one way we can find out. If you’re getting your joy from your job, we can take your job and see if you still have your joy. Maybe you’re getting your joy from your health. You say, “No, it’s from the Lord.” If your health fails, see if you still have your joy.

ACTION POINT:

The only joy anyone can have is in the Lord, because He never changes. Your joy can be threatened if you get it anywhere else. It’s not wrong to joy in your health or your job. But that kind of joy that can be threatened. You need a joy which supersedes that. Psalm 16:11: says, “Thou will show me the path of life; in Thy presence is fullness of joy.” Rejoice in the Lord always.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Within the Holy of Holies

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an High Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” Hebrews 6:19-20

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The Old Testament temple had three parts: the outer court, the inner court, and the innermost court. The innermost court was called the “inner sanctum” or the “Holy of Holies.” Only the priest could go in there.

Once a year, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the people. He would lift up a corner of the heavy veil and slip under. Then, he would sprinkle blood upon the Mercy Seat. If anyone went in without the blood, there was sudden death.

When the veil of the temple was torn at Jesus’ death, it was torn from top to bottom so no one would think a person did this. By His death, Jesus was saying that there were no more animal sacrifices necessary. Now, every believer can enter the Holy of Holies.

ACTION POINT:

Have you been there today?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Above All, Love!

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“And above all things, have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Why is love so important?

First, because it is the greatest virtue. Love supersedes faith and hope (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Second, because it is the greatest command. Jesus said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37).

Third, love is the greatest testimony. What is really going to make your community wake up and believe that your church is really the church of the Lord Jesus Christ? The size of your building? The way your lawn looks? The signage at the street? No. The way you love God and show love to others.

ACTION POINT:

Nothing can motivate a lost sinner like the heartfelt love of Jesus Christ.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers