“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” – 2 Cor. 5:17

Salvation is wonderful – for many reasons. It not only changes where we’re going, it changes who we are. It changes our eternal destiny, but it does even more. It also changes our earthly life. It does so to such an extent that even if there was no heaven or hell the Christian life would still be the best life possible. Salvation changes our beliefs and behavior, our attitude and our actions. We become someone we’ve never been before. We are “a new creature“.

That’s not true of only some, but rather of all who trust Christ. As Paul said, “if any man be in Christ“. Every Christian has a new life. They live because Christ “died for them, and rose again” (vs. 15). And because of who they become they “should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him” (vs. 15). Having new life “in Christ” we are to live for Christ. We don’t have the right to do as we please unless it is to please Him who died for us and reconciled us to God. We do so because “the love of Christ constraineth us” (vs. 14).

We don’t become a Christian by changing, but by being changed. We could never make ourselves acceptable to God. Instead, “he ( God) hath made us accepted in the beloved.” ( Eph. 1:6). As a result of that glorious truth we are changed and that changes everything! We are made new, different, and better! It is no wonder that we love to sing “Since Jesus Came into My Heart”. Think about it — HDS

What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought
 since Jesus came into my heart!
 I have light in my soul for which long I had sought,
 since Jesus came into my heart!

Refrain:
 Since Jesus came into my heart,
 since Jesus came into my heart,
 floods of joy o’er my soul like the sea billows roll,
 since Jesus came into my heart.

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;” 2 Tim.  3:13-14

“Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.” – Psa. 4:4
It’s amazing what stillness can do for the soul. Perhaps you’ve experienced one of those times when you were praying, or just thinking, when suddenly your mind was flooded with thoughts you’ve never had before. Then you wonder, “How in the world did I ever think of that?” Sadly we don’t have enough moments like that. There are so many distractions around us and desires within us that it’s difficult to stay attuned to God.
Years ago we used to hear people talk about “praying through”. I wouldn’t agree with what some of them meant by that, but I’m also sure that sometimes we’re through we before we even start praying. We say a prayer without ever actually praying. We sometimes do a lot of religious things without doing anything for the Lord. It makes us feel good about ourselves, but God isn’t impressed.
We would be wise to be more zealous regarding having a quiet time with the Lord. Rather than running ourselves ragged with a to do list in our hand sometimes we ought to clear the calendar and make more time for God. Sadly the moment our feet hits the floor in the morning we are thinking of things to do. We give little thought to the matter of quietness and meditation. Few there be who can actually say as the Psalmist did in Psa. 119:147-148, “I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word. Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.”
Too many are busy, zealous, and exhausted doing many things, but they miss the main thing, which is communion with God. We ought to do as we’re told in Psa. 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Think about the words of this old hymn. – HDS

Be still my soul the Lord is on thy side
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain
Leave to thy God to order and provide
In every change He faithful will remain
Be still my soul thy best, thy heavenly friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end

Be still my soul when dearest friends depart
And all is darkened in the vale of tears
Then shalt thou better know His love His heart
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears
Be still my soul the waves and winds shall know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

“Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.” – John 13:23

This paints a word picture that I can’t get out of my mind. I see John leaning upon the Lord with his head on His bosom, near that great heart that loved him so, and wonder what he must have wondered. Is that not a picture of what we should do? Shouldn’t we lean upon Christ so as to transfer the weight of our worries over to Him rather than staggering beneath our burdens. John put himself in a position to hear instructions, express friendship, experience peace, and feel safe. Even so, we should each pursue sweet communion with our Lord, the One upon whom we are to cast our care ( 1 Pet. 5:7). And what Jesus did for John He can do for you.

J. R. Miller said, ” He takes our sins – and forgives them. He takes our wicked heart – and changes it. He takes our ruined life – and restores it. He takes all our mistakes and faults – and corrects them. He takes into His hands the ordering of our steps, the shaping of our circumstances, the ruling and overruling of the events of our days, our deliverance in temptation. We really have nothing whatever to do with our own life – but our simple duty day by day, hour by hour”.

Although we cannot be in that same room, nor see Him face to face, we can abide in Him through His word ( John 15:7) and reap the benefits of His love and power. In doing that Jesus said, “that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” ( John 15:11). His physical absence does not lessen His ability to help us. Whatever we need He is more than able to supply. Keep in mind, that phrase “one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved” could apply to us also – since he loves us all. That being the case we should draw nigh unto Him and He will draw nigh unto us ( Ja. 4:3). I’m sure that was an experience that John never forgot – something that often helped him face the difficult days that were ahead. May the same be said of us! – HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

“Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” – Acts 20:31
I introduced my message last Sunday morning by saying, “When you have 8 children, 37 grandkids, several great grandchildren, and a church full of people you care about, someone you love is always in a storm of some sort”. Then I added, “It hurts to see them hurt”. In light of that I want to say, I am deeply concerned about the direction some folks are headed. They might not admit it, they might not even be aware of it, but I see it well.

I can remember when they joined the church and I recall their excitement and commitment. You knew you could count on them to support the church in every way. But then things began to deteriorate. They began to miss services, ignore special activities, lose their zeal, and change their countenance. You can tell things aren’t right but you don’t know exactly what’s wrong. You wonder if you have offended them, or if they are at odds with other members, or going through some difficulty, or if some sin has taken control of their life. You just don’t know and they won’t talk. Slowly, like a slow leak in a tire, you watch their spiritual life deflate. You wonder, pray, and keep hoping things will change, but they don’t.

As a pastor I’ve seen it before and I know it’s not going to end well unless something changes. It literally breaks your heart (although they might think you don’t know or don’t care). Every pastor knows exactly what I’m talking about. And they are overwhelmed with a feeling of helplessness as they watch people headed for disaster, seemingly without a care in the world. You might think you can stray away from God and just go so far, but there is more to it than that. Once you leave you can end up in a place you never thought you would be. As you’ve heard, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay”.

Could it be that someone reading this article today is headed in that direction right now? Is it you? You know what I said is true of, yet you keep resisting, ignoring the warnings, and refusing to get things right. I just want you to know that your situation doesn’t go unnoticed and that others care about you. Whatever is wrong can be made right and that could save you a world of heartache. Don’t wait until you’ve done something you can’t undo. It’s time for action. There will never be a better time than now to get back on track. As I’ve quoted George Truett so many times, “God’s will is always right, best, and safest”. That’s true. Do whatever you must and get there. Please! – HDS

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346