Our Devotionals come from Love Worth Finding, the ministry founded by Adrian Rogers who has since graduated to Glory. These are so relevant even today!

Chicken Coops and God’s Creation TODAY'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL June 28, 2025 “For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them.” ROMANS 2:14-15 PONDER THIS Suppose my father is a master builder. He can build the most beautiful houses, buildings, and skyscrapers you’ve ever seen. Suppose I study his work, and I watch very carefully to observe everything he does. I see his methods and his techniques. Then I take my father’s materials, tools, and plan, but rather than building a magnificent skyscraper, I build a chicken coop. When I’m finished building with my father’s plans, materials, and tools, I step back and say, “You see that chicken coop? That proves my father doesn’t exist.” That’s often what we do with the things we make. We take God’s tools, God’s materials, and God’s plans and make—compared to God’s creation—a chicken coop, then say, “Look what we have done!” All we have is from Him. What we make pales in comparison to His creation. When you present the case of your faith, whether in a college philosophy class or talking to your neighbor, you don’t have to be intimidated. You don’t have to be nervous and hesitant about sharing the hope that is in you. Be bold! Creation says there is a God; design says there is a God; the moral law of the Universe says there is a God; and even the very things we make each day say there is a God! What are some things you see every day that point to God? What are the ways you can acknowledge God in daily conversation? PRACTICE THIS Seek to point to God and acknowledge who He is with someone who does not yet know Him.

Forget the Math TODAY'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL June 27, 2025 “Then Peter came to Him and said, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.’” MATTHEW 18:21-22 PONDER THIS When we hear the call to forgiveness, we often ask the same question Peter did. Where are the limits of forgiveness? When can I let go of the responsibility to forgive? Peter was asking when he could finally be done with forgiveness. But Jesus said, “This is not a matter of mathematics. When considering forgiveness, forget the arithmetic.” Jesus said, “Seventy times seven.” And this doesn’t mean precisely 490 times, either; it means forgiveness to the point of losing track of how many times it has been. If the person repents, you forgive him or her again. If that is how you forgive, you’re not keeping a record, so every time you forgive seems like the first time. It’s not the seventh time or the eighth time because the other times don’t count. They’re gone. You’re not keeping score. Love does not keep a record of wrongs. So, you forgive freely before it becomes an infection. Forgive freely, forgive fully, and forgive finally. When have you struggled with forgiveness? What makes forgiveness challenging? How does knowing Jesus change the way we view forgiveness? What does it look like practically to forgive someone fully? Have you ever forgiven someone like that? If you have, what was that like? If not, what steps do you need to take toward full forgiveness? PRACTICE THIS Identify anyone you are harboring bitterness for. Ask God to help you forgive completely.

Taking the Step Toward Reconciliation TODAY'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL June 26, 2025 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” MATTHEW 18:15 PONDER THIS What does the Bible say to do when people trespass against you? Go to them. You lovingly visit and confront them. How are you to visit them? Do so privately. When people sin against you, don’t gossip about them. Address your grievances with them, talk to them, and take the step toward forgiveness and reconciliation. Human nature says, “He sinned against me. If he wants me to forgive him, let him come to me.” But when we look at Scripture, we are called to live differently. Am I supposed to seek reconciliation and forgiveness? Absolutely. Why? Because the Bible says we’re to be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving one another. How? As God forgave us. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” In response, when someone sins against us, we do not have the luxury of waiting for them to come to us. We go to them as Christ has come to us. How do you respond when you have an argument with someone? What are some ways you move away from people instead of moving toward them? What is most challenging for you about moving toward reconciliation? How can God help you with that challenge? PRACTICE THIS Have a conversation with someone you have been at odds with. Be intentional about showing the love and forgiveness of Christ.

Fishing for Men TODAY'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL June 22, 2025 “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” 2 CORINTHIANS 5:18-20 PONDER THIS You have been called to the ministry of reconciliation. We’ve been reconciled by Calvary. God has brought us to Himself, but God did not save you simply to sit and to sour; He also saved you to serve. We have been reconciled. Therefore, it follows that we have been given a ministry of reconciliation to bring others to God. You need to see every man as your potential brother. You need to see every woman as your potential sister. When we fish for fish, we take a fish out of a beautiful life into death, but when we fish for men, we take men out of a horrible life into Heaven. Paul says we are appointed as Heaven’s ambassadors. What is an ambassador? An ambassador is somebody who represents a king in the court of another. Some will object, “Pastor, I’m not trained.” You don’t have to be trained. Share what Jesus has done for you. You’ll be surprised how your testimony will have an effect. You can also get trained; you can learn about who God is and then share what you have learned. If you received a thousand dollars cash for every soul you led to Christ, would it make a difference in your life? It’s really a matter of motivation. This is the ministry that you have been called to, and it will have a reward. Have you taken on this ministry of reconciliation? Why or why not? Who in your life lives as an ambassador of Christ? What are some of the things they do to represent and reflect Christ? PRACTICE THIS Thank the person who shared Christ with you and consider how you can live as an ambassador of Christ today.

The Time is Now TODAY'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL June 21, 2025 “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.” 2 CORINTHIANS 5:9-11 PONDER THIS There’s not going to be any more soul-winning in Heaven. All the soul-winning you’re ever going to do for all eternity, you must do now. Don’t you want to bring somebody to Heaven with you? A denominational worker, who worked his entire career with the Southern Baptist Convention, called me. I went to visit him on his deathbed. He said to me, “Pastor, I am saved, and I’m going to Heaven.” He said, “I am not afraid to die, but I am ashamed to die because I’ve not been a soul winner.” Set your eyes on the prize of eternity. One day, in the clear light of eternity, you will say, “Oh God, why was I not a soul winner?” You get to Heaven by the grace of God. I cannot work my soul to save—that work my Lord has done. But I will work like any slave for the love of God’s dear Son! Paul said, “You want to know what motivates me? What is my compulsion? To please Him. What is my compensation? I am going to the judgment seat of Christ” (author’s paraphrase). Do you feel an urgency to share the Gospel, or is it something that is easy to neglect? Why? What is the hardest part about sharing your faith? How are you seeking growth in this area? PRACTICE THIS Look for an opportunity today to meet unbelievers and get to know them.

Taking Yourself Off the Throne TODAY'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL June 20, 2025 “Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” LUKE 14:25-27 PONDER THIS How badly do you want to be a disciple of Jesus? Do you want to be a disciple at the cost of personal relationships? Do you want to be a disciple at the cost of personal reputation? Our personal ambitions have to be laid in the dust to follow Jesus Christ. I wanted to be an architect or a lawyer. God called me to be a pastor. I’m infinitely glad that He did. But when you come to the Lord Jesus Christ, you leave the plans of your own. You forsake yourself. There is a difference in self-denial and denial of self. You can have self-denial. You can say, “I’ll do without food. I’ll do without sleep. I’ll do without this or that.” That’s self-denial. But to deny self is far different. Simon Peter forsook his nets, but it was a long time before Simon Peter forsook his self. Are you willing to take yourself off the throne and put Jesus Christ on it? If not, you can’t be a disciple. The personal relationships, personal realization, and personal reputation you have in life all need to be laid at the foot of the cross. Then you take up His new life. From the moment you come to Christ, you must continually ask, “Jesus, what do You want me to do?” What has been costly for you about following Jesus? What have you had to sacrifice or lay down? How often do you ask God what He wants you to do? How might you make this a habit? PRACTICE THIS Think about something you have been holding onto that you need to surrender to God. Confess to Him and create a visual reminder of your new life in Christ, such as a Scripture you’ve written out to remind yourself that you belong to Him.

More than a Golden Football TODAY'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL June 19, 2025 “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” 1 CORINTHIANS 9:24-27 PONDER THIS Paul said, “If you want to get the crown, you have to train yourself. You have to discipline yourself. You have to run with all your might. And when you box, it’s not shadow boxing, as one who is beating the air. This is a real fight.” I am a “has-been” athlete, but I did play some football. I was the captain of a championship team. Our award was a little gold football, which I gave to my sweetheart, Joyce. And then, because we played football, we got a sweater with a letter on it. Our letter said “PB,” for Palm Beach High School. And then, because God blessed me with some success, I got some trophies. Now, let me tell you what happened with all that stuff. Thieves came into our house one night and took the golden football. It’s gone! Who has it now? I have no idea. What about the sweater? Moths got the sweater. It’s gone! What about the cups? I have no idea where they are. Things of the world fade and are easily stolen. But when you win souls to Jesus Christ, you don’t receive a corruptible crown that can be lost or stolen. You receive a crown of glory that never fades. What are some earthly crowns you have held onto? What happened to them? What are some things you have done to run the race of sharing Christ with others? What is hard about running that race? PRACTICE THIS Talk to someone who does not know Christ and ask how you can pray for that person.

Feed My Sheep TODAY'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL June 18, 2025 “He said to him again a second time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Tend My sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ And he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep.’” JOHN 21:16-17 PONDER THIS In this passage, Jesus called Peter to display his love for Christ by caring for those Christ cares for. We are also called to this. How can you say you love Jesus but not be concerned for souls that He died for? You may say, “That’s not my gifting.” But Jesus Christ said to Peter, “Do you love Me? Then feed My sheep.” We don’t primarily care for others because of our gifts and natural tendencies, but because we love Jesus. What drives me is not my love for people; it is my love for Jesus. Yes, I love people, but the chief motivation of my life is His love for me and, therefore, His love through me. Are you motivated to share the Gospel? Why or why not? How has your love for Jesus changed your motivation in life? PRACTICE THIS Praise God and thank Him for giving you life in Him. Ask Him to grow your motivation and boldness to share Him with others.

God Doesn’t Grade on a Curve TODAY'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL June 17, 2025 “And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance ROMANS 2:3-4 PONDER THIS Have you ever broken the speed limit but not been pulled over? Most of us have. Your sin may go undiscovered by people. You may be able to “get away” in some sense in this life. But you will not escape the judgment of God. Too many people have the idea that God’s going to grade on a curve. They say, “We’re bad, but we’re not as bad as somebody else.” But God demands absolute perfection, and none of us can provide it. That’s why we need the Gospel. That’s why we need the righteousness of God that comes by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Would you say you’ve kept all of God’s Ten Commandments? Of course not. You may say, “I’ve only broken one.” I don’t believe that, but let’s suppose you’d only broken one. Here’s a man dangling over a fire by a chain of ten links. Nine of those links are made of forged steel and one of them is made of crepe paper. “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). We are all desperate for the righteousness of Christ to cover our sins. What are some things you have tried to hide or cover up? What changes when you know something cannot be covered up? When have you acted like a hypocrite in your relationship with God? How have you responded to this realization? PRACTICE THIS Confess any sins you have tried to cover to another believer and ask him or her to pray for you.

Sacrificing Truth for Pragmatism TODAY'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL June 16, 2025 “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.” ROMANS 2:1-2 PONDER THIS What’s the judgment going to be like? First, the judgment is going to be according to truth, and there will be no disguise. The word hypocrite originally referred to a play actor. In Jesus’ time, the actors would put on disguises. If they were supposed to be happy, they would put on a happy face disguise. If they were to be sad, they’d put on a sad face mask. If they were to be fierce, they’d put on a fierce face mask. Jesus said, “In the religious world, some are hypocrites. They’re actors wearing disguises.” But God will pull off the mask, and there will be no disguise. God’s judgment is according to truth. Many of us have forgotten the truth. We have sacrificed truth for pragmatism. We don’t ask, “Is it true?” We ask, “Does it work?” “Do I like it?” We’ve sacrificed truth for style. We don’t say “Does he or she tell the truth?” We say “Do I like him? Do I like her?” God’s measure is different than ours. We are to come to Him, be changed by Him, and ask Him to give us discernment as we walk through life lest we become hypocrites ourselves. What are some ways we try to hide our sinful nature from God? Why is it ineffective? How can you pursue God’s truth? Has your life been shaped by pursuing God and His truth? Why or why not? PRACTICE THIS Write out a list of some of the masks you wear. Confess these to God and ask Him to guide you in His truth.

A Chain Reaction TODAY'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL June 15, 2025 “Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.” PSALM 128:1-2 PONDER THIS You can’t do anything about your ancestors, but you can do something about your descendants. You can say, “By the grace of God, I’m going to be a godly dad, and I’m going to see my children’s children loving God, serving God, and praising God.” The need of the hour is for people who are God-fearing, hard-working, and ready to pour into the next generation. Some of us need to look up to God in humble submission and say to Him, “Your will be done.” That’s the greatest, most wonderful thing you could do. Just look up to God and say, “Your will be done. Save me. Fill me. Use me. I want to fear You and follow You with my family. Your will be done.” That’s one category of person—those who say to God, “Your will be done.” But for others, as they slip into Hell, God will say to them, “Your will be done.” God is not willing that any should perish. If you die and go to Hell, it’s because you’ve refused the will of God and chosen your own will. Submission to God starts a chain reaction as you surrender to Him and pour into the next generation. But so does rejection of Him and His call on your life. What are some areas where you have insisted on your own way? What is the hardest part about submitting to God? What have you learned from submitting to God? PRACTICE THIS Submit to God in prayer and confess where you have insisted on your own way.

Tending Gardens TODAY'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL June 14, 2025 ““Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” DEUTERONOMY 6:4-7 PONDER THIS Do you have a garden? I don’t have a garden. I don’t like gardens. There’s too much weeding, too much fertilizing, too much watering, and too much care. It’s tough to have a garden. Regardless of your interest in gardening, you’ve got another kind of garden. You’ve got some olive plants. And caring for those plants takes weeding, it takes watering, it takes fertilizing, it takes cultivating, it takes discipline, it takes instruction, and it takes demonstration. Most of all, it takes time. I read the other day that if a father does not spend quality time with his daughter, he greatly hinders her journey in life. She can become distant or look for attention from someone else. She’s looking for a father figure. She might become vulnerable or may have a negative view of men in general. Investing in the next generation takes time, but it is worth it. Be intentional about the moments you have with the next generation. Children and young people need to know your love and that you have taken the time to care. How have you been shown love from someone spending time with you? What is hard about taking time to love others? What is beneficial about it? PRACTICE THIS Think about who you need to pour into in the next generation and reach out to set up dedicated time with them.

Consistent Godly Parenting TODAY'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL June 13, 2025 “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” EPHESIANS 6:4 PONDER THIS Joyce and I haven’t been perfect parents, but we’ve got four wonderful kids. And one thing we’ve tried to do is to be consistent in our discipline. Sometimes parents under-discipline, and other times they over-discipline and lash out or scream at their children. When you scream at your child, you are the one who is out of control. Some make it their aim to control their children. If you show me a father who is a leader but not tender, I’ll show you a family that still has problems. Some tough dads are just bullies. A child can tell the difference between man-centered control and godly discipline. If you have all rules and no relationships, you’re going to have rebellion. If you have all relationship and no rules, you’re going to have chaos. Follow Christ and He will lead you in that balance. If you are a parent, are you more likely to over-discipline or under-discipline? What are some ways you need God to grow you in this area? What would it look like to discipline your children in a godly manner? PRACTICE THIS Confess to God where you are passive or overbearing. Ask Him to change your heart.

Nurturing the Olive Plants TODAY'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL June 12, 2025 “Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.” PSALM 128:3-4 PONDER THIS If you lived in the Middle East, you’d understand why the Psalmist described a child as an olive plant. An olive plant needs to be cultivated and cared for until it becomes an olive tree. A mature olive tree is green, beautiful, productive, valuable, and very stable. There are olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane that some believe are two thousand years old and may have been there when Jesus Christ prayed in that garden. When nurtured, an olive tree’s impact spans across generations. God’s Word says children are like olive plants around your table. An olive plant, like any fragile plant, needs to be cared for; it needs to be nurtured. This is the tenderness and intentionality we need to exercise in caring for our children. The days fly by, and we need to be thoughtful about the ways we are raising them in God’s likeness so that they will grow into mature and steady trees for His glory. What are some ways you are pouring into the next generation now? What are some ways you can be intentional about your time so you can nurture others in the things of God? How have you been nurtured and raised up in the things of God? Where did you miss out on that? How did those experiences impact you? PRACTICE THIS Plan a meal or a visit with someone in the next generation. Ask how you can support that person in walking with Jesus.