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BIBLE MEDITATION:

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

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

What does “impute” mean? “To put it on your account,” like a banker or bookkeeper. It’s like making a notation: “This much was deposited in this account,”

At the moment you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, God imputes righteousness to you through His Son. God makes you righteous. He deposits Jesus’ righteousness into your account. Romans 4:8 follows up by saying, “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”

An old servant woman finally got saved. She was so happy. But she worked for a man who was mean and cruel, and he hated her happiness in Christ. He tried to ridicule and belittle her. Finally he said to her, “You say you’re saved. Tell me, how does it feel to be saved?” She said, “Well, I don’t believe I can explain it where you can understand it. But here’s what it feels like to me. It feels like I’m standing in Jesus’ shoes and He’s standing in mine.” A theologian couldn’t have said it better.

“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” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

ACTION POINT:

Thank God that though you are a sinner, He doesn’t impute that to you, and though you are not righteous, He does impute—puts into your account—that to you, the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Church Growth God’s Way

It is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. (Romans 9:8)

Picture the Old Testament Abraham as a pastor. The Lord says, “I will bless you and prosper your ministry.” But the church is barren and bears no children.

What does Abraham do? He begins to despair of supernatural intervention. He is getting old. His wife remains barren. So he decides to bring about God’s promised son without supernatural intervention. He has sex with Hagar his wife’s handmaid (Genesis 16:4). However, the result is not a “child of the promise,” but a “child of the flesh,” Ishmael.

God stuns Abraham by saying, “I will give you a son by her [your wife Sarah]” (Genesis 17:16). So Abraham cries out to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” (Genesis 17:18). He wants the work of his own natural, human effort to be the fulfillment of God’s promise. But God says, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son” (Genesis 17:19).

But Sarah is 90 years old. She has been barren all her life, and she has already passed through menopause (Genesis 18:11). Abraham is 100. The only hope for a child of promise is stunning, supernatural intervention.

That is what it means to be a “child of the promise” — to be born “not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:13). The only children that count for children of God in this world are supernaturally begotten children of promise. In Galatians 4:28 Paul says, “You [Christians], like Isaac, are children of promise.” You are “born according to the Spirit,” not according to the flesh (Galatians 4:29).

Think of Abraham as a pastor again. His church is not growing the way he believes God promised. He is weary of waiting for supernatural intervention. He turns to the “Hagar” of mere human devices, and decides he can “attract people” without the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit.

However, it will not be a church of Isaacs, but Ishmaelites — children of the flesh, not children of God. God save us from this kind of fatal success. By all means work. But always look to the Lord for the decisive, supernatural work. “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord” (Proverbs 21:31).

John Piper 

When couples break solemn vows...

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” Hebrews 13:4

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

When couples break solemn vows—unless they repent with every ounce of their hearts—trust is broken. Put it down big, straight, and plain: People who treat sex lightly will also treat other human beings lightly.

No society can long endure that takes a loose view of sex. It’s the sin that led to the downfall of Greece, Rome, Egypt and Babylon. Immorality is the enemy of the home and the enemy of the home is the enemy of the nation. Immorality and impurity cause us to sin against society itself. My heart was grieved to read that in Washington D.C., the capitol of the so-called greatest nation on earth, there were more children born out of wedlock than were born in wedlock. That should cause us to fall on our face and weep before Almighty God.

ACTION POINT:

Are you married? Tell your spouse today of your love and faithful commitment to him or her.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Death Conquered

Hallelujah and Amen!!!

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." - Revelation 21:3-4

And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.  - Isaiah 35:10

26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

27 For "God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "all things are put in subjection," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.

28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

29 Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?

30 Why are we in danger every hour? - 1 Corinthians 15:26-30

19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress. 

20 No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. 

21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 

22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 

23 They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD, and their descendants with them. 

24 Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. 

25 The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain," says the LORD.  - Isaiah 65:19-25

11 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. 

12 "I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass, 

13 and have forgotten the LORD, your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, and you fear continually all the day because of the wrath of the oppressor, when he sets himself to destroy? And where is the wrath of the oppressor? 

14 He who is bowed down shall speedily be released; he shall not die and go down to the pit, neither shall his bread be lacking. 

15 I am the LORD your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar- the LORD of hosts is his name. 

16 And I have put my words in your mouth and covered you in the shadow of my hand, establishing the heavens and laying the foundations of the earth, and saying to Zion, 'You are my people.'"  - Isaiah 51:11-16

Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. - Revelation 20:14

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 7:17

Six Things It Means to Be in Christ Jesus

[God] saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began. (2 Timothy 1:9)

Being “in Christ Jesus” is a stupendous reality. It is breathtaking to be united to Christ. Bound to Christ.

If you are “in Christ” listen to what it means for you:

In Christ Jesus you were given grace before the world was created. Second Timothy 1:9, “He gave us grace in Christ Jesus before the ages began.”

In Christ Jesus you were chosen by God before creation. Ephesians 1:4, “[God] chose us in [Christ] before the foundation of the world.”

In Christ Jesus you are loved by God with an inseparable love. Romans 8:38–39, “I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In Christ Jesus you were redeemed and forgiven for all your sins. Ephesians 1:7, “In [Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses.”

In Christ Jesus you are justified before God and the righteousness of God in Christ is imputed to you. Second Corinthians 5:21, “For our sake [God] made [Christ] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

In Christ Jesus you have become a new creation and a son of God. Second Corinthians 5:17, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Galatians 3:26, “In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.”

I pray that you will never grow weary of exploring and exulting in the inexhaustible privilege of being “in Christ Jesus.”

John Piper 

Are you single? Here’s God best desire for you…

BIBLE MEDITATION:

It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 1 Corinthians 7:1-2

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Premarital sex always endangers future marital happiness. It follows as night follows day. Surveys show that those who were sexually pure when they went to the marriage altar have the greatest opportunity to have a happy marriage. People who keep God's laws concerning purity enjoy a better sexual relationship with their spouse than those who break God's laws.

You can understand why. Suppose a man says to a woman “I love you so much, I just can’t wait.” He talks her into giving in to his desires. Is he trustworthy? On the other hand think about a man who loves and respects a woman by keeping her pure. Do you see the trust this builds?

Impurity sins against your future marriage and happiness. God has a wonderful plan for you. Sex is so bad outside marriage because it’s so good inside marriage. He has planned the greatest fulfillment for you. You have to feel sorry for the other group because they’ve missed what their Creator has designed them for.

ACTION POINT:

Are you single? Take courage from knowing your purity is God’s best for you. Though it may be hard to wait, God will honor your obedience.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

A Little Love Respect and Kindness

I recently heard these words from a very wise, down on his luck black man "sometimes you just gotta love the Hell out of em".

He was referring to the people who we often think of as a lost cause.

You know, the people we avert our eyes from as they pass by.

This man had a book written about him.

It's called, "Same Kind Of Different As Me" by Ron Hall and Denver Moore.

The book is about unconditional love between a wealthy white couple and a black homeless man.

It's also about how God prepares the way for His divine purpose through the hearts of those who trust in Him.

God is very specific in His commands to share your love with the downtrodden.

And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' - Matthew 25:40

 Love is:

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant

5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,

10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-10

The background to the above verse and the implications of not being obedient.

31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.

32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.

34 Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,

36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'

37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?

39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' - Matthew 25:31-39

Lack of love for those less fortunate, including those in prison, the homeless, those in the prison of addiction and mental illness.

These are sinful attitudes that will have dire consequences.

41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,

43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'

44 Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?'

45 Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'

46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." - Matthew 25:41-46

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. - 1 Peter 4:8