Wednesday Morning Devotional

The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. – Romans 6:23

Once again, Summer for this teacher has gone by quickly.  As I type this, I’m just a few hours from heading back to work to begin my 27^th year.  I have enjoyed my time over these past couple of months greatly.  I’ve been cruising to Key West and Cozumel with my family, met lots of new people playing music, and even been used of the Lord by preaching His Word.

If I’m honest, I’ve probably spent the least amount of one-on-one time with the Lord this Summer when compared with other Summers.  I always think on that last day of school that I will spend all this time with Him . . . but then I just start doing other things.  I end up going through the motions and end up feeling far away from the Lord that I claim to love and serve.

But then . . . God just shows up!  He shows me that comfort and ease are very dangerous.  He helps me realize that I don’t want to begin a school year without His mercy, His grace, His power, and His hand on my life.  I read Ephesians 6, dust off my armor, and I put it on.  

To this day, an amazing thing about God is how He does not live in time.  He is never in a hurry like I am.  He literally has all the time in the world.  He allows me to choose a path, not like where it leads, and then pick me up and place me immediately back on the right path.  It makes me love and appreciate Him so much.  It makes me know that He has got me!  He is the author and finisher of my salvation!  I belong to Him!

I was really thinking about the cost of sin recently.  We American Christians tend to think of sin as being murderous, rebellious, and slanderous.  These are merely symptoms, not the source.  If the greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God, then the greatest sin is simply to not love Him.  How easy it is to drift away from the very first commandment!

There are two types of people on this planet:  The ones who have their sins covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, and those who do not.  If you are one of the ones who have it covered, then Calvary’s cross shows you the astronomical price that was paid for that sin to be forgiven.  I look to that cross this morning and am so thankful . . . so appreciative.

If your sin is not covered by His blood, then you will pay for your sin.  The price is separation from God in hell.  You will not argue your way out and there are no technicalities.  Sin is a big deal and the world we live in does not treat it as one.  If you do not know Him, ask God today to show you what it is doing to you.

Lord, thank You for salvation!  Thank You for the simplicity of it all.  You paid the price so that all may come freely and have their sins washed away.  What a gift!  Help me to live in the light of that forgiveness.  Help me to live by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Use me this school year to be a light that so shines before men.  There is and never will be another like You, Lord.  I look so forward to the day when my faith becomes sight.  Help someone who reads this to draw a little bit closer to You.  Amen.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  – Romans 5:8

If I ever doubt God’s love for me, I simply go to Calvary in my mind.  There I find Jesus giving His life for me.  There I realize all that He did to make my salvation possible.  Jesus left Heaven to come here and voluntarily be treated the way He was treated.  He could have lived in such extravagance and opulence, but He had nothing to do with any of that.  He chose to surrender to the will of the Father.  

This makes me wonder . . . How does a Christian demonstrate his or her faith today?  I find Romans 7:15-20 so prevalent in my own life.  The things I want to do, I just don’t seem to do.  The things I don’t want to do, I find myself doing.  I can’t imagine someone out there beats themselves up more than I do when I recognize it.  I tell some evil people that their sins can be forgiven, but then am disappointed in myself when I stray from the path because I “knew better.”  This is nothing more than the sin of pride.  For me to think such a way, it simply means that I don’t think I’m as evil as the person I’m witnessing to.  All of us, me included, must come to God from a place of complete depravity.  If God Himself doesn’t work in our hearts, minds, and wills . . . it just won’t happen.  It is still the greatest miracle He performs today . . . He changes us.  He really changes us and makes us desire to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.

I find a great many people calling themselves Christians today but displaying little to no obedience to God.  I’ve served on church committees where the men admittedly didn’t regularly read the Bible.  If you don’t know the Word and have a basic grasp of the stories and commandments, how can you obey God?  If many church leaders aren’t reading it, then what does that say about the regular attenders?

Our American “give me something for doing nothing” society is not helping right now.  There are literally kids right now who no longer say they want to be a fireman, doctor, or an astronaut when they grow up because they believe checks will magically come in the mail like they do for mom or dad who does nothing for a living.  I always think of Paul in 2 Thessalonians 3:10. He and his workers took on the attitude that “If I don’t work, then I don’t eat.”  They’d rather starve than have others think that ministering was an easy route to a paycheck.  

It all comes down, I think, to wanting to be a disciple of Jesus.  There is always, and I mean always, a step to take in His direction.  The sons of Zebedee had to leave their nets.  Matthew had to leave his tax collecting booth.  The woman “caught in the act of adultery” had to stop sleeping around.  Adam Hopkins had to quit lying, stop being sexually immoral, cease the partying lifestyle, stop using foul language, stop reading and watching foul-mouthed, sexually charged trash, and do his work for the Lord, not for men.  Why did I have to change?  Because I read that all these things are what God requires in the Bible.  After I read it, I would inevitably find myself doing that particular wrong.  After doing it, I found myself convicted when I got alone with God.  At this point it becomes a simple matter of obedience . . . am I going to do what God wants?  Or am I going to keep doing what my sinful flesh wants?  If I find that I can’t obey, I simply cry to Him for help.  He always gives me what I need.

Think about it, when the rich, young, ruler realized he’d have to part with his money, he walked away from Jesus.  I hope to God that he went on to do like I do more often than I’d like to admit . . . he thought about it, cried out for help, and ended up obeying later.  But, if he did not, then his journey was over.  There is no discipleship without obedience.  In John 6:66, many disciples turned and followed Jesus no more simply because they realized He wasn’t going to perform the “feed the five thousand” trick again for them.  Yet, somehow, despite all the evidence to the contrary, many, if not most Americans believe they can have their sin, and God too.

Lord, make me holy.  You say to be holy like You are holy . . . You wouldn’t say it if it weren’t possible.  Lord, help all of us Americans who take on the name “Christian” not take that Name in vain.  Help us to be true followers of You.  Help us to truly humble ourselves, pray, seek Your face, and turn from our wicked ways.  For then, and only then, will You hear from heaven, forgive our sin, and heal our land.  I love You, Lord.  Search my heart today!

I forgot to remind you guys that I’m kind of hit or miss in posting WMD’s in the Summer.  I’m pretty sporadic.  Soon enough I’ll be back into my school routine, and I’ll be posting regularly.  I sure do appreciate you guys reading and all the encouragement and feedback y’all send back my way.

Forty-Eight

How great is the Lord, how deserving of praise.  – Psalm 48:1

So here I am having just completed my 48^th trip around the sun (Unless you’re a flat-earther . . . then I don’t know how it works).  I love to look at Bible verses and chapters that correspond with my age or my birthday.  For example, my birthday is 6/24 and Numbers 6:24 says, “The Lord bless you and keep you.”  I’ve taken that as my life’s verse.  Looking at Psalm 48 this morning, to me, it is the result of Him blessing me and keeping me since 1991 when I first got saved.  In my 48 years of living, the Lord has been incredibly good to me.

These past couple of weeks I have just been out of my normal routine.  I haven’t been in the Word like normal and I’ve just felt kind of lost lately.  Then, reading this verse . . . I can’t believe how His presence still shows up!  He has shown up when I preach, when I talk to people about Him, even when I’m playing a worship song in a bar.  Earlier this week, a friend sent me a page out a devotional that was so right on time.  In no way can I boast about how well I’ve done for Him, but I can boast about how well He has done for me.  How great is the Lord!  How deserving of praise.

Lord, thank You for being the God that You are!  There is none like You!  I love that I’ve been Yours for 32 years now.  You have picked me up, turned me around, and placed my feet on solid ground.  It makes me want to shout . . . Hallelujah!  Thank You, Jesus!  Lord You’re worthy of all the honor, and all the honor, and all the praise!  Continue to bless me, and keep me, and make Your face shine upon me!  Amen.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared, “Go and sin no more.”  — John 8:11

So here we are right dead smack in the middle of what the world calls “Pride Month.”  An entire month where we are all supposed to celebrate “diversity.”  In Merriam Webster’s dictionary, diversity is simply defined as, “being composed of different elements or qualities.”  However, if you Google “diversity,” the definition includes an “involving of different genders and sexual orientations.”  The best I can tell, “diversity” was a word that was hardly even used until the sexual revolution of the 60’s.  At that time, a psychologist named John Money coined the term “gender role” which morphed into “gender identity.”  I didn’t mean to write that much about it, but you can Google that stuff for yourself.

First, I’m going to let you know what DOES NOT work if you sincerely desire for a member of the LGBT community to come to faith in Christ.   You can not simply quote Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13, Deuteronomy 22:5, Romans 1:28, Jude 1:7, or simply tell the story of Sodom and Gomorrah from Genesis 19.    One of two things happens if you do this.  One, some family member has already beaten you to the punch.  A grandma, aunt, or uncle has told them that they are on their way to hell for being gay or trans.  This constant beatdown has pretty much taken all hope away and they give up on any notion of following God.  Two, they’ve read more of the Bible that you think.  They counter with “the shirt you are wearing has two fabrics woven together so you are directly violating Deuteronomy 22:11.”  They might even go, “Do you eat shrimp?  Yes?  Then I will see you in hell because you are violating Leviticus 11:10.”  Now, at this point, you could argue about moral laws and ceremonial laws, but it is highly doubtful anyone is taking a single step towards the Lord, much less getting saved. 

Second, sexual sin is sexual sin.  In 1 Corinthians 5 there was a guy going to church regularly that everyone knew was having sexual relations with his stepmother.  Paul was incredulous, you can read his response in verses 3-5.  Strangely enough, I remember seeing a pornographic film where stepmom fulfilled the “needs” of her stepson while dad was away.  This brings me to the talking point that will get you somewhere with the LGBT community.  I openly talk about my own heterosexual sin that I’ve had to struggle with and still struggle with.  Many people, not just in the LGB community, find it astonishing that sex between a male and a female outside of marriage is straight up sin.  Supposed Christians love to post on Facebook that homosexuality is an abomination, but do they post Hebrews 13:4 for the men and women who sit in church every Sunday but are being unfaithful to their spouses?  The same verse could be applied to the unmarried couple living together.  I wonder if most homosexual bashing Christians bash heterosexual sins with the same fervor.  I always say, “sexual sin is sexual sin, and I am affected too.”  Once this is established, the person and I are in this thing together.  We both need Christ!  Once this is established, you can begin to talk about how Christ has saved you, is currently saving you, and will continue to save you until you are ultimately saved when you die.  Then, you can open the door for Christ to begin His work in the person you are sharing with.  If you act in any way like you have arrived and they need to catch up with you . . . you just need to keep your mouth closed.

I had a kid specifically seek me out recently.  He said, “You’re a man of God and you know the Bible, tell (so and so) that it is okay if I have more than one wife!  The Bible says so, doesn’t it?”  I went on a bit about how God allowed it for the Kings, but it wasn’t in His original plan.  The kid didn’t care about any of that, he just wanted to be okay with having two different women.  I left the subject all together and simply said, “The real question is this:  Do you want God?  Do you love Him and desire to follow Him?  Given that He is willing to save You from your sin and from an eternity in hell . . . will you choose Him daily?  God is going to ask you to love your enemy, work a job with complete integrity, stop cussing, not cheat on tests, deny pleasuring yourself with pornography and sex before you get married to one woman . . . He’s going to ask you do to some hard things.  Are you willing to follow Him?  If you are, go for it with all your heart, and I mean go to war . . . it is more than worth it!  If not, deny Him altogether and live how you want, but you can’t have both.”  This pretty much ended our conversation, and he never asked me any more Bible questions.  I still think to pray for him quite often though.  

In the verse I’ve chosen to use for this WMD, the woman was caught in the act of adultery.  If she was caught in the act, there must have been a man involved as well.  Where was he?  Why wasn’t he dragged out for public humiliation?  I don’t know the answer, but I do know that the people who knew scripture the best picked and chose who it applied to.  You and I are doing no good to anyone if we do the same.  

The goal is to win the lost . . . not beat them into submission.  

Lord, please use my little post here.  I don’t know everything, nor do I want to know everything.  I just know You are the best thing ever happen to me.  You are the best thing that could happen to anybody.  With all my heart, I want You to use me to bring others, all others, to You.  Sweep through our nation and send the greatest revival the United States has ever seen.  Let it start with me.  Amen.

And I will profess to them, I never knew you:  Depart from me, ye that work iniquity. – Matthew 7:23

There is probably no verse that I think about more than this one.  I think it is because the people Jesus mentions in the previous two verses really think they are good to go.  They honestly think that because they did stuff for Him that they are fully worthy of heaven.  I’ve often wondered what I would say if I were given the chance.  If I know beforehand that my preaching, teaching, Bible reading, witnessing, and church attendance is of no value when it comes to my entrance into heaven . . . what would I say?  What could I say?

I think one of the main points of the story is that it doesn’t matter if we know Him when it comes to going into heaven.  That sounds bad, I know, but He doesn’t say, “I will profess to them, you didn’t know me.”  He says, “I didn’t know you.”  I can say all I want, “I know the President of the United States,” I could even study and learn all kinds of facts about him, but if I show up to the White House expecting to go see him in the Oval Office, I’m not getting in unless the president knows me.  

With that being said, I think I’d go to every moment in my life where God reached down and touched my life.  I might start by saying, “Lord, when I was sixteen, I know You forgave me of my sins and planted new life into my spirit right there at that lake landing that I still love to visit.”  Then, I might add, “And Lord, years later when I almost quit serving You because I thought You were ripping me off and I was missing out on “fun” that I really should have called “sin,” You led me to that church service and filled me up with the Holy Spirit . . . I’ve never been the same since.  So many times, when I would have fallen, You picked me up, dusted me off, and encouraged me to keep walking.  On my own I would have fallen away a thousand times never to return, but You . . . You never gave up on me.  You know me, Lord.”

Lord, thank You so much for the 31-year relationship that we have developed.  I have wronged You more times than I can count, yet You are always there teaching me in all of it.  Where would I be without You?  The fact that the God of the Universe knows me is nothing short of amazing.  The fact that You will make Yourself known to any and every humble and willing heart is a miracle.  May all who read this today be known by You.  Help us to be the light that so shines before men.  Make us different.  Make us holy.  Make us like You.  Amen!

As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.  – Proverbs 27:19

The last full day of school is here.  Crazy to think about.  I know they say time speeds up as you get older, but I know many kids who are realizing that time zips on by.  Not long ago it was the first day of school, then Christmas, then the New Year, then Spring Break, and now . . . C-ya, we are done.  I wouldn’t say I’ve hated this year, but it has been a rough one.  If I had to give myself a grade . . . I might get a C.

Spiritually speaking, I just haven’t done well.  I’ve let things bother me that I’d swear didn’t used to bother me.  They say the older you get, the more you get set in your ways.  I don’t want that at all.  I want God’s ways to be my ways.  I want to be growing in Him until the day I draw my last breath and stand before Him.  I’m already wondering what I can do differently next year.

I think the worst thing that I did this year is attempt to force open doors that just weren’t open to me.  I thought I knew how to lead a church.  The more I do it, the more I realize that I don’t have a clue.  At the same time, the more I make mistakes, the more I feel God take the reins.  It’s like I’m literally in one of those paper mazes.  I go the direction I think we need to go and then run into a wall.  God then steps in, retraces my steps, and is gracious enough to tell me which direction to choose.  Of course, then I start taking more turns that look right to me only to find another wall.  I’m so thankful that God doesn’t get tired of rinsing and repeating.  

On the other end of that, I thought long and hard about closing doors that are open to me.  At first, I thought it was fun to make super religious people angry.  By that, I mean people who attend church regularly, but who haven’t an ounce of love for their lost neighbors in the community.  They are very content to walk by on the other side of the road and leave a beaten man who has just been robbed to his own fate.  But somewhere along the way, I started caring about the religious people.  I realized that they are just as lost as the blatant sinner who reveals it publicly on social media.  For the first time, I started listening to them and allowing their words in my heart.  For the first time in a very long time, I swung towards wanting to separate myself from the people in the bars, taverns, and taprooms where I play music.  The only reason I could come up with was, “a lot of people will think better of me if I stop.” 

Thank God He stepped in because I had hit another wall on the paper maze.  I had fully decided to play out the rest of my current music schedule and never play again. This was not because God asked me to, but some lame attempt to gain the favorable opinion of men.  One evening, after playing a long set, I went out and talked to people like I usually do.  Then it happened, someone asked me about my little church and wanted the information about the services.  They said they planned on coming.  I left with God all over me saying, “I have you here for a reason.”  

I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling that time is short now.  None of us knows how much time we have left on this earth.  None of us knows how much more time we have to witness to people and bring them into the kingdom of Heaven.  If you know any lost person . . . you’ve got to find a way to tell them about Jesus!  You can’t keep putting it off.  And here’s another important news flash, many of the people you think are good to go, are not good to go.  A lot of people think they are followers of Jesus, yet Matthew 7:21-23 awaits them.  You’ve got to find a way to tell them as well.  

Wouldn’t you want someone to tell you?

Oh, my Jesus and my Lord, I call upon You today to send revival to Your people!  I see the great separation taking place!  A person is either for You or against You.   They either love You or they don’t.  Use us, Your people, this day to point others to You.  Give us wisdom and discernment, but most of all give us the power of the Holy Spirit.  Time is so short, Lord.  Give us a sense of urgency.  Help us to humble ourselves, pray, seek Your face, and turn from our wicked ways . . . for we want to see You heal our land.  Amen!

As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.  – Proverbs 27:19

The last full day of school is here.  Crazy to think about.  I know they say time speeds up as you get older, but I know many kids who are realizing that time zips on by.  Not long ago it was the first day of school, then Christmas, then the New Year, then Spring Break, and now . . . C-ya, we are done.  I wouldn’t say I’ve hated this year, but it has been a rough one.  If I had to give myself a grade . . . I might get a C.

Spiritually speaking, I just haven’t done well.  I’ve let things bother me that I’d swear didn’t used to bother me.  They say the older you get, the more you get set in your ways.  I don’t want that at all.  I want God’s ways to be my ways.  I want to be growing in Him until the day I draw my last breath and stand before Him.  I’m already wondering what I can do differently next year.

I think the worst thing that I did this year is attempt to force open doors that just weren’t open to me.  I thought I knew how to lead a church.  The more I do it, the more I realize that I don’t have a clue.  At the same time, the more I make mistakes, the more I feel God take the reins.  It’s like I’m literally in one of those paper mazes.  I go the direction I think we need to go and then run into a wall.  God then steps in, retraces my steps, and is gracious enough to tell me which direction to choose.  Of course, then I start taking more turns that look right to me only to find another wall.  I’m so thankful that God doesn’t get tired of rinsing and repeating.  

On the other end of that, I thought long and hard about closing doors that are open to me.  At first, I thought it was fun to make super religious people angry.  By that, I mean people who attend church regularly, but who haven’t an ounce of love for their lost neighbors in the community.  They are very content to walk by on the other side of the road and leave a beaten man who has just been robbed to his own fate.  But somewhere along the way, I started caring about the religious people.  I realized that they are just as lost as the blatant sinner who reveals it publicly on social media.  For the first time, I started listening to them and allowing their words in my heart.  For the first time in a very long time, I swung towards wanting to separate myself from the people in the bars, taverns, and taprooms where I play music.  The only reason I could come up with was, “a lot of people will think better of me if I stop.” 

Thank God He stepped in because I had hit another wall on the paper maze.  I had fully decided to play out the rest of my current music schedule and never play again. This was not because God asked me to, but some lame attempt to gain the favorable opinion of men.  One evening, after playing a long set, I went out and talked to people like I usually do.  Then it happened, someone asked me about my little church and wanted the information about the services.  They said they planned on coming.  I left with God all over me saying, “I have you here for a reason.”  

I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling that time is short now.  None of us knows how much time we have left on this earth.  None of us knows how much more time we have to witness to people and bring them into the kingdom of Heaven.  If you know any lost person . . . you’ve got to find a way to tell them about Jesus!  You can’t keep putting it off.  And here’s another important news flash, many of the people you think are good to go, are not good to go.  A lot of people think they are followers of Jesus, yet Matthew 7:21-23 awaits them.  You’ve got to find a way to tell them as well.  

Wouldn’t you want someone to tell you?

Oh, my Jesus and my Lord, I call upon You today to send revival to Your people!  I see the great separation taking place!  A person is either for You or against You.   They either love You or they don’t.  Use us, Your people, this day to point others to You.  Give us wisdom and discernment, but most of all give us the power of the Holy Spirit.  Time is so short, Lord.  Give us a sense of urgency.  Help us to humble ourselves, pray, seek Your face, and turn from our wicked ways . . . for we want to see You heal our land.  Amen!

To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath me barred me in forever.  But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit.  – Jonah 2:6

I would like for you to do me a favor.  I got a letter yesterday.  It is one of those letters that you really look forward to as a pastor.  It is short and it is sweet.

I have already given my response and we are in an ongoing conversation.  What I would like for you to do is write your response.  If you don’t mind, write the response in a comment on my website www.wednesdaymorningdevotional.com.  I plan on showing the person your responses and am praying that this person will read them and take them to heart.  I also want this person to know that there are a lot of people who care.

Here is all that the letter said:

If you ever get the chance, I’m ready to submit to the Lord.  I’m done running and trying to do things my way.  I would appreciate some first step to moving forward in a walk with the Lord.

What is your response?

Lord, I am so praying for my friend this morning.  Intervene as only You can with the sweet Holy Spirit that leads us, guides us, and constantly points us in the right direction.  I realize it is not anyone’s perfect response that will help this person get on the right track . . . it is You . . . the author of true life.  I love You, Lord.  My prayer is that this person begins a lifelong love relationship with You.  May many, many others come to faith in You because this person has come to faith in You.  I pray for all who will respond . . . may You richly bless each person and anoint the words that they write.  Amen!

But if you warn them to repent and they don’t repent, they will die in their sins, but you will have saved yourself.  – Ezekiel 33:9

This has been a rough week.  I’ve watched many people that I’ve had conversations with about God enter prison and some have even entered eternity.  I’ve also had conversations with people whose lives have been transformed dramatically by the Lord.  I realize I’m focusing more on the negative than the positive, but the fact remains . . . one out of one will experience an appointment with the Lord. 

 It is appointed unto man once to die, and after this, face judgment.  (Hebrews 9:27)  

As I was falling more and more into despair and doing the whole “Am I really making a difference?” thing, I got a pretty sweet “rude awakening.”  I was reminded of when I was a kid in school.  We had a music teacher who would allow us on Fridays to bring our own music and play it for the whole class.  At the time, I couldn’t wait for it to be my turn.  I was going to introduce the class to “Rock and Roll All Night, and Party Every Day” by the hottest band in the world!  I’d sit there and make fun and laugh at pretty much any other music that wasn’t what I liked.

Well, this one girl would bring in Christian music.  She would attempt at her young age to honor the Lord and play something that would bring His message.  Of course, I’d make fun of it and make sure she knew “it sucked!”  I’d learn over the course of time that she was going through stuff that no kid should ever have to go through.  Looking back, I’d bet that music was some of the only stuff that brought her true comfort . . . and she was just a kid.  

When I’m talking to someone about the Lord today, I’m not going to worry so much about the response that they give to me.  They can laugh at me, or they can ignore me . . . I’m not responsible for the results.  I imagine those Christian cassettes being played all those years ago planted something in my heart that ultimately caught on . . . and I’m eternally grateful for it.

Lord, at the end of the day . . . I can’t save anyone.  I can introduce people to You, who can and does save . . . but I can’t do it.  A person being saved is an absolute miracle.  A person’s spirit, which is completely dead, comes to life!  You did it for me and my spirit still grows today.  Where would I be, Lord?  Thank You for reminding me where I came from!  Thank You for reminding me of what I’d be had You never come into my life!  Help me be able to take the same ridicule the girl took 37 years ago in chorus class from me.  I pray that today You will bless her like crazy.  I pray that just maybe she will read this and know that I sure do appreciate her.  I also pray that Your people will be stirred to tell others about You . . . regardless of the cost.  Amen

This past week, I read/listened to two biographies. Both were fascinating. One was from the lead singer of a rock band I used to love, and the other was from missionary David Brainerd. The reason they impacted me so much is because when I was 16, I thought I wanted to be a rock-n-roll guitarist. Yet, in the same year . . . I got saved.

Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. — Matthew 7:26

When this lead singer went to his first KISS concert in Canada, he called it “Being baptized by fire into rock-n-roll.” He knew that being a rock star was what he wanted to do with his life. The book was pretty much clean until he stated that line. Afterwards, it is a written account of pure debauchery. Every vile and evil thing that he did was laughingly justified by, “hey, it was the 80’s . . . it was a different time.”

I could not help but think about how my life could have been drastically different. The more concerts he went to, it propelled him further and further into that world. After being saved, the more concerts I went to, I’d feel more and more convicted that I didn’t belong in that world. I always felt God telling me, “This is not what I want for you, Adam.” What if I had gained the entire rock-n-roll world, but lost my soul?

Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. – Matthew 7:24

In stark contrast is the diary that David Brainerd kept in the 1700’s. Here is a man who struggled with knowing God and constantly fought sin and worldliness. So many things he said made me question my own relationship with the Lord and how lightly I too often esteem Him. David only lived 29 years, yet here I am 300 years later reading about him, learning from him, and desiring to hear the same words I’m sure he heard when he entered eternity.

All I can say is that the Lord is unbelievably good. The fact that He would rescue a teenager like He did me is nothing short of a miracle. I’m so thankful for the gospel message. I’m so thankful for forgiveness. I’m so thankful for men who truly gave their lives for Him and still motivate me to keep on keeping on.

Lord, I’m so grateful this morning. I’m also feeling that it just isn’t fair. It’s not fair that You change my life so much for the better . . . yet so many don’t get to experience living for You. Do what You did for me, Lord! Convict the hearts and souls of men and women! Save them! There is no salvation apart from You! Send your conviction and save many of the rock stars now in the twilight of their lives! Answer the prayers I pray when I get the chance to attend the concerts now. Let them know that there is mercy, grace, and forgiveness at the cross. Use them to lead more people to You in a year than people they have led away from You in decades. You are the author of salvation, nothing is too hard for You. There is and never will be another like You, Lord! I love You! Make my life count. Please make my life count.