LWF - Which Grace Do You Need Most Today?

Which Grace Do You Need Most Today?

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
The Bible speaks of the “manifold” grace of God. What does that mean? It means we can experience God’s grace in many ways. For instance, there is singing grace. When Paul and Silas were in prison, God gave them grace to sing (see Acts 16:25).

There is speaking grace. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” God will give you the ability to talk about your troubles with His grace.

God also gives us strengthening grace. Timothy was often sick with many infirmities. Paul told him to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1).

ACTION POINT:
Which do you need today? Singing grace? Speaking grace? Strengthening grace? All three? Spend time in the Word of God today and draw from the manifold grace of God.

Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

© 2014 Love Worth Finding Ministries | PO Box 38300 - Memphis, TN 38183-0300

LWF - A Blessing for Fathers on Father’s Day

A Blessing for Fathers on Father’s Day

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in His ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord. The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Yea, and thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Jerusalem.” Psalm 128

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
I am convinced that America’s families will not be changed until the dads in America are changed. The key is the father. God has given us a survival manual, and it begins with the father. He is to be a God-fearing, hard-working, worshipping man of God. He is to be bold, but he must also truly fear God.

What is the fear of God? Not a cringing dread of God, but love on its knees. And I am convinced that the man who fears God the most loves God the best.

Dads, your children need to see the fear of God in your life. I’ve made an observation of fathers. Do you know what makes a good dad? He is a man who is both strong and tender at the same time. Strong, but not afraid to hug, to kiss, to love, to speak softly and gently to the children.

ACTION POINT:
These children of yours are like olive plants round about your table. Dads, if you will do this, if you will put the emphasis upon your family, we are going to see good in this nation again.

LWF - Freedom and Liberty in Worship

Freedom and Liberty in Worship

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”2 Corinthians 3:17

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Formalism and worship are two separate things. When you are worshiping the Lord, there needs to be freedom and order. Worship is not real quiet music and everyone sitting still and not smiling. That’s not worship. Some people say, “Well that’s a dignified service.” Perhaps they don’t know the difference between reverence and rigor mortis.

If you study worship in the Bible, you’ll find out that worship was marked with brightness, spontaneity, and joy. The early Christians had something that fire could not burn, that swords could not kill, that water could not drown, that jails could not hold. They knew the holiness, the loveliness, and the glory of God in a life-changing way.

ACTION POINT:
Read Psalm 5:7 and 29:2 and take some time today to worship God in joy and truth.

LWF - Someone Loves You Perfectly

Someone Loves You Perfectly

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Are you gripped with fear about something? Do not give in to despair. There is hope. Love is the answer to overcoming your fear because love is the Christian’s security blanket.

When you were a child, did you have a teddy bear or a blanket that gave you a sense of security—something you wanted to hold close to you and get wrapped up in? Well, dear friend, the Holy Spirit of God is the believer’s warm, loving security blanket. Have you read the verse, “Perfect love casteth out fear”? It may not have rung true to you because you are thinking, “I can never manage to achieve “perfect love.” But this is not the way to look at this verse. Listen to it in The Living Bible, which says, “We have no fear of someone who loves us perfectly.” God’s perfect love can eliminate all dread. It is not our love for Him, but His perfect love for us that will cast out our fears.

ACTION POINT:
The question isn’t “Am I brave enough?” The question is “Do I trust His love enough?”

LWF - What Is Outside His Control?

What Is Outside His Control?

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:11

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
The fourth and fifth chapters of Mark give us marvelous illustrations of all the things God has placed under the authority of our Lord Jesus. You’ll find Jesus stilling the storm (vv. 4:35-41); He is the Master over disaster. You’ll find Him healing a demon-possessed man (vv. 5:1-20); He has authority over demons. Next, Jesus heals a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years; even disease is under His domain (vv. 5:24-34). Finally in these chapters He raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead; Jesus has authority over death (vv. 5:38-43).

Whatever befall—disaster, demons, disease, or even death—Jesus Christ is Lord!

ACTION POINT:
“These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He [the Father] put all things in subjection under His [Jesus’] feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church” (Ephesians 1:19b-22 NASV). Friend, meditate upon this passage and rest in Him today, for He has it all under His control.

LWF - Serve Him and Let Him Take Care of It

Serve Him and Let Him Take Care of It

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”Romans 12:17-18

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
A certain minister served a church for many years, then one day the church asked him to leave. He was talking to another preacher friend and said, “What they did to me was dirty. After all I did for them, and they treat me this way.” The preacher friend listening to him thought to himself, “It’s a shame he didn’t do it for God.”

If you’re serving God in any way, don’t do it for people; do it for the Lord. Serve Him. If you’re doing right, people may mistreat you, but what difference does it make if you are serving the Lord? God will prove Himself faithful and will reward you for your obedience.

ACTION POINT:
Don’t bow to bitterness. Tell God what has happened. Let Him deal with it in His time. He’ll take care of it.

LWF - Dead and Buried

Dead and Buried

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:4

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
One of the grandest blessings in the entire Bible is often missed by believers. It is the burial of Jesus Christ! That’s right! The burial of Jesus is a blessing to you. Because not only have we died with Him, we have been buried with Him.

When Jewish people died in Bible times, they were immediately embalmed with special oils and wrapped in linen. The body was hidden and buried in a tomb. That is what Jesus has done with our old body of sin.

Not only have we been crucified with Christ, we have been buried with Christ. Why the emphasis? So that you will not be haunted by the ghost of guilt. Your old life is not just dead, it’s buried!

ACTION POINT:
The devil will try to remind you what you were. Don’t let him. Don’t go prowling around in the dead bones of your old life. It is gone by the grace of God!

Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.
© 2014 Love Worth Finding Ministries | PO Box 38300 - Memphis, TN 38183-0300

LWF - In The Shelter of His Wings

In The Shelter of His Wings

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of Thy wings.” Psalm 61:3-4

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Of the 6500 hymns written by Charles Wesley, surely none is considered finer than the one titled “Jesus, Lover Of My Soul.” Many accounts have been shared as to the inspiration behind this song, but whether any are true, indeed the song’s lyrics are a poignant picture of a young man’s journey into discovering the love of his life—Jesus.

The third verse of this great hymn begins, “Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find.” 
ACTION POINT:
Where is your heart today? Are you suffering from a broken relationship or the loss of a loved one? Run, don’t walk, into His waiting arms of love. He wants to bind up your hurt and bring hope to your heart.


 Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

© 2014 Love Worth Finding Ministries | PO Box 38300 - Memphis, TN 38183-0300

LWF - The Captain Comes to Take Over

The Captain Comes to Take Over

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” James 4:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Joshua had an encounter with the pre-incarnate Christ in the Old Testament near Jericho (see Joshua 5). His first words to Him were, “Art Thou for us, or for our adversaries?” (v.13). Joshua was on his guard, not wanting anyone to harm God’s people. Notice the Lord’s response, “Nay; but as Captain of the host of the Lord am I now come” (v. 14). Basically, He didn’t come to take sides, He came to take over.

Jesus is the Captain of the host of heaven, and this Conqueror with the drawn sword came to give Joshua a message of victory.

ACTION POINT:
You will never know victory until you lay your sword at His feet, bow yourself prostrate before His Mighty Throne, and worship Him. Before you can be a conqueror, you must be conquered. I pray you will soon be on the sunny side of Hallelujah Avenue where the glory roads intersect!

 Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

© 2014 Love Worth Finding Ministries | PO Box 38300 - Memphis, TN 38183-0300

LWF - The Pure Heart

The Pure Heart

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy word.” Psalm 119:9

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
A child delights in what he has.
A youth delights in what he does.
An adult delights in what he is. 
The more mature you are, the more you will desire to be something—not just to have something or to do something, but to be something.

What do you desire to be today? Someone who is known for the way they dress? The deals they close? The house they live in? Or do you want others to know that you have a pure heart—a heart that is utterly devoted and surrendered to God.
ACTION POINT:
Matthew 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” They will know the unknowable, they will do the impossible, and they will see the invisible. I want to have a heart like that. What about you?

 Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

© 2014 Love Worth Finding Ministries | PO Box 38300 - Memphis, TN 38183-0300

LWF - Our Only Answer

Our Only Answer

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.” Psalm 31:24

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
The world wants to know what we should do about the problems of the world. What about the overcrowded prisons? Poverty? Rape? Murder? Do you know why we never solve the problems? Because we don’t see the real problem.

The sociologist says it is just a cultural lag. The psychologist calls it an emotional disturbance. The philosopher calls it irrational behavior. The communist calls it the human class struggle. The humanist calls it human weakness. The criminologist calls it anti-human conduct. The Bible calls it sin.

And the only answer for sin is Jesus, Who executes the will of God, expresses the love of God, and expounds the mind of God.
ACTION POINT:
The problems of our world are beyond solution—apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. God moves in answer to our prayers. Your effectual, fervent prayer “availeth much.” (James 5:16)

 Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

© 2014 Love Worth Finding Ministries | PO Box 38300 - Memphis, TN 38183-0300

LWF - Releasing the Old—Taking Hold of the Best

Releasing the Old—Taking Hold of the Best

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“I will love Thee, O LORD, my strength.” Psalm 18:1

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Have you ever tried to get a bone away from a dog? It’s not too easy, unless you have something better for him. Try offering a T-bone steak, and that dog will drop his bone like a bad habit.

In the same way, the writer of Hebrews tried to encourage the Jewish Christians, new believers who had a tendency to cling to the old customs of the Old Testament, to leave the dry bones of ceremonies and feast upon the delights of the Lord Jesus Christ.
ACTION POINT:
It’s a lesson we all must appropriate in our lives. It can become comfortable for us to hold to our traditions, rather than try something new. But friend, there is no one and nothing that can compare with Jesus. You may learn to love Jesus better, but you can never love anything better than Jesus. Ask God to begin showing you the delights of a close relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

© 2014 Love Worth Finding Ministries | PO Box 38300 - Memphis, TN 38183-0300

LWF - His Searchlight Upon Our Hearts

His Searchlight Upon Our Hearts

BIBLE MEDITATION:
 “Shall not God search this out? For He knoweth the secrets of the heart.” Psalm 44:21

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Christian author and speaker S. D. Gordon said, “In every man’s life there is a throne. And when self is on the throne, Christ is on the cross. But when Christ is on the throne, self is on the cross.”

There is something you hold to be the highest good that captivates your attention and controls your life. Your decisions are made in light of whatever this thing is. Is it Christ? Or something else?

God’s plan is not that Christ have “a place” in your life or that He have prominence in your life. Jesus Christ deserves and even demands preeminence in your life. That means there is no rebuttal, no refusal, and no rival.
ACTION POINT:
Ask God to reveal to you if there is anything is your life that is controlling your decisions, apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. Give Him permission to reveal that today.


 Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.
© 2014 Love Worth Finding Ministries | PO Box 38300 - Memphis, TN 38183-0300

Prayer from Called Magazine 2/9/15

Father, please touch those who feel stressed. – Replace confusion with clarity ... lack with abundance ... chaos with peace ... and problems with solutions.

~In Jesus' Name, Amen

Pastor Bishop

Pastor Bishop surprised us all by attending church for the first time since his surgery. He's looking good, seems to be in good spirits and promised not to do wheelies in his wheelchair. We're all praying that he returns to us quickly and we're praising the Lord for the Pastor's healing.

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.    1 Corinthians 10:13

Matthew 9:17

Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.    Matthew 9:17

LWF - Keeping the Faith

Keeping the Faith

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“…Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
I believe with all my heart that the call needs to go out today more clearly than ever before for Christians to keep the faith.

William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, said, “The chief danger of the 20th century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, and Heaven without Hell.”

We are but one generation away from paganism. If this generation doesn’t keep the faith and pass it to the next, there will be no faith.
ACTION POINT:
Are you passing the faith to the next generation? Here is your commission from the Lord: “Therefore shall ye lay up these My words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates.” Deuteronomy 11:18-20

 Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

© 2014 Love Worth Finding Ministries | PO Box 38300 - Memphis, TN 38183-0300

2 Corinthians 12:9

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.    2 Corinthians 12:9

Psalm 23:4

Psalm 23:4

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.


Interestingly enough, one often associates a rod with correction. We can find comfort in knowing that God will use the rod of correction on us when we need it. We can have a certain sense of security in knowing that God will chastise us when we go astray, in order to draw us back!

LWF - Him—Just Him

Him—Just Him

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
I heard of a lady who memorized so many verses of Scripture that she quoted them back to the Lord in praise to His name. When she grew old and began to lose her memory, she could only remember one verse, “For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” She would quote it over and over.

Soon her memory deteriorated more, and all she could remember was just the phrase “committed unto Him.” It brought her much comfort. Finally she came to a place where all she could say was “Him.”
ACTION POINT:
You can distill the Bible down to that one word, “Him.” Can you tune all of your life to that one note of praise? Him.

 Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

© 2014 Love Worth Finding Ministries | PO Box 38300 - Memphis, TN 38183-0300

Bible Verse 1/30/15

My defense is of God, Who saves the upright in heart.    Psalms 7:10

Bible Verse 1/29/15

Psalm 23:4

For You are with me;


Five simple words, but what incredible comfort lies within that scripture. How many of us really believe it with our whole hearts? If we did, would we ever feel lonely, afraid, unworthy, unloved? Would we struggle with sin if we remembered that the most high God is with us?

Today's Prayer 1-28-15

Father, please speak to our friends and family members who don't know You ... or who've walked away from their Christian faith. – Heal their brokenness, fill their voids, and draw them close to You.

~In Jesus' Name, Amen

 

From Called magazine

Bible Quote 1-27-15

Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.    Matthew 4:4

LWF - The Greater Miracle

The Greater Miracle

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“I, even I, am the LORD; and beside Me there is no Savior.” Isaiah 43:11

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
It takes more of God’s power to save a soul through the cross of Jesus than it does to do any other thing. God had no difficulty creating the universe. The Bible tells us He spoke and it was so. But when God wrote salvation’s story, He went to great difficulty. Let me illustrate.

What if I held a service and had the power to straighten a cripple’s legs or to bring sight to the blind? The next service would be standing room only. Now I certainly want God to heal, but let me suggest a different scene. What if I held a service and a little girl walked down the aisle and gave her heart to Jesus? That is a greater miracle than opening the eyes of the blind, because the Son of God had to hang on a cross in agony and blood to purchase her salvation! Jesus did not come as a great healer or teacher, He came as a Savior.
ACTION POINT:
Ask God today to give you the heavenly view—for the angels in heaven rejoice each time one lost person receives eternal life. This is the greatest miracle.

 Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

© 2014 Love Worth Finding Ministries | PO Box 38300 - Memphis, TN 38183-0300

Daily Bible Quote - Timothy 2:15

Every day is a beautiful day for inspiration and faith from Daily Bible Quotes!

It's 1/25 and here is today's scripture:

Make every effort to give yourself to God as the kind of person he will approve. Be a worker who is not ashamed and who uses the true teaching in the right way.    2 Timothy 2:15

LWF - Faithfulness, Not Miracles

Faithfulness, Not Miracles

BIBLE MEDITATION:
 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” Matthew 24:45-46

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
It is sinful for us to ask God to prove Himself by a miracle or sign, though I guess we have all done it.

When I was at Stetson University as a young boy having my quiet time in the prayer room, I asked God to move a chair from one side of the room to the other. I told him, “I already believe You and I don’t want to insult You, but what a confirmation it would be to my heart and life if You would just do this small miracle.” Isn’t that dumb?

I am so glad that God didn’t let the devil nudge that chair across that room and get me hooked on some kind of hocus-pocus. Jesus said that asking God for a sign, like this, is evidence of an evil, adulterous heart (see Matthew 12:39). Oh, that God would find us not looking for miracles but faithful in all we do in His name.
ACTION POINT:
Singer/songwriter Steve Green has sung, “May all who come behind us find us faithful.” Are those coming behind you looking ahead and finding an example in you? Are you faithful?

 Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

© 2014 Love Worth Finding Ministries | PO Box 38300 - Memphis, TN 38183-0300

LWF - Complete Payment for Your Sin

Complete Payment for Your Sin

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” Romans 3:25

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Propitiation is a big word that means satisfaction. Because God is a holy God, His anger and justice burns against sin. And He has sworn that sin will be punished.

There must be a satisfactory payment for sin.  But God said, “If I punish man for his sin, man will die and go to hell. On the other hand, if I don’t punish man for his sin, My justice will never be satisfied.”

The solution? God said that He would become our substitute. He would take the sin of mankind upon Himself in agony and blood – a righteous judgment and substitute for sin.

His wrath burned out on the cross when His only Son died as man’s propitiation for sin. And this is love (see 1 John 4:10).

ACTION POINT:
Question: What can you bring Jesus today to repay Him for what He has done for you? Answer: Nothing could suffice. But “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my ALL!”



 Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

© 2014 Love Worth Finding Ministries | PO Box 38300 - Memphis, TN 38183-0300

Today's Prayer - Jan 23, 2015

Today’s Prayer | From CALLED Magazine

Father, help us understand Your will. – Sometimes it's hard to know which way to go, and what to do. – But please make Your voice clear, so we can follow You.

~In Jesus' Name, Amen