“… be thou an example of the believers..” 1 Tim. 4:12

In 1996 a zoo in Copenhagen, Denmark added a new attraction. It put a human couple on display! The man and woman was placed in a see through cage next to the baboons and monkeys. They even put up a plaque describing their habitat, diet, and threats to their existence. They placed living room furniture, a computer, a TV, and a stereo inside the cage. Naturally they were allowed to leave occasionally. Can you imagine spending day after day on display as an exhibit in a zoo? Just picture people standing at your cage watching you!

Well, the fact is, if you are a Christian you are on display. People are watching you. As Paul said in 2 Cor. 3:2-3 “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.” You are on display before the world. The question is “What do they see?” They should see something of Christ – something that shows the difference he makes in a person’s life. We are to be salt and light in this sinful world and that requires that we be blameless in all things. God forbid that we live in such a way that it makes the glorious gospel repulsive to others. As someone said, “You are the only Bible some people will ever read.” Let us then, “… be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” ( 1 Tim. 4:12) – HDS

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

“…Prove your own selves..” – 2 Cor. 13;5
Examining yourself is one thing, proving yourself is another. Spurgeon illustrated the difference like this: He said, “Prove your own selves.” That means more than self-examination. A man is about to buy a horse; he thinks that possibly he may find out some flaw, and therefore he examines it; but after he has examined it, he says, “Let me have it for a week, that I may prove the animal before I invest in him.” A ship, both before and when launched, is carefully looked at; and yet before she is allowed to go to sea, she takes a trial trip; and then when proved she goes out on her long voyages. Now, many a man’s religion will stand examination that will not stand proof. It is like some cotton prints that are warranted fast colours, and so they seem when you look at them, but they are not washable when you get them home. It is good enough to look at, and it has got the “warranted” stamped upon it; but when it comes out into actual daily life, the colours soon begin to run, and the man discovers that the thing was not what he took it to be.”

Paul’s point is this – don’t tell me what you are, show me – prove it! You claim to love the Lord, and serve the Lord, and care for others, but where is the proof? Many testify as to what they are but upon cross-examination they can’t prove it because all the evidence is against them. That’s not only a disgrace, it is a difficulty. It hinders our ability to reach others for Christ. The sad fact is that many have a title and hold an office in the church, but that’s all they do. They fail to fulfill their office by doing their duty.

In Paul’s last letter to Timothy he speaks of his impending death by saying, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” – 2 Tim. 4:6-8. Then he leaves Timothy with this charge, “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”( 2 Tim. 4:5). We would do well to do just that. Prove you own selves! – HDS

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

“Examine yourselves…..” – 2 Cor. 13:5

This might be the hardest thing for most people to do. They have no trouble examining others, but they find it terribly difficult to make an honest examination of ourselves. I suspect that isn’t so much a fear of what they might find, as it is knowing what they will find. Let’s face it, most of us don’t want to face it when it comes to examining ourselves. We don’t want to think about our faults and failures. Nor do we want others to know about them. So we work overtime trying to project an imagine of what we want others to think about us.

With an attitude like that we would do well to examine ourselves with regards to salvation, to see whether or not we are “in the faith”. But even after we know we are saved there is still a need to examine ourselves ( 1 Cor. 11:28). That’s a need we never out grow. We ought to do so as though we are on a mission to find anything that is contrary to the will of God. Doing so is for our own good.

Such exams should be thorough, frequent, honest, and according to the proper standard. As an inspector for the Missouri State Highway Department I was required to examine and test materials to insure quality. I couldn’t afford to error and I wasn’t at liberty to just make up the results. I had to follow the standards and record my findings. I went to great lengths to make sure it was right. Even so, we should take care in examining ourselves. And the only way to do that is by relying on the sure standard of God’s Word. What we find might be shocking, disturbing, and harmful, but its discovery is crucial. We need to know the truth about ourselves and the only way to find it is by looking to the One who knows the truth about us. – HDS
 
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” – 2 Cor. 10:12

I’m a firmly believe that we ought to do our best at whatever we do. My mother instilled that in me by repeating these words over and over again: “Good, better, best. Never let them rest. Till your good is your better and your better is your best”. More importantly, God demands our best. He expects us to be faithful – doing the best we can with what we’ve got. That requires different things from different people. He doesn’t compare us one to another. When we’ve done the best we can we’ve done as much as anyone else, and enough to please God.

Some, however, fall into the trap of trying to do more or better than others. They are dissatisfied with their lives simply because they can’t excel above others. They aren’t satisfied even when they’ve done their best. They want to be like someone else – look like someone else – do what someone else does – have what someone else has. But, we shouldn’t compare ourselves with others or place ourselves in competition with others. We each must stand alone and give an account of ourselves to God. Your reward is based on faithfulness. When we give all, regardless of how small, it is enough. Your reward will be just as great as the person who, by human standards, who gave more or did better.

Stop comparing yourself to others. It’s okay to be you! In fact that’s what God wants and expects. There is great peace in being content with just being yourself. It takes the pressure off and brings relief. It also makes you more productive. Some of the most miserable on earth are people who are healthy, wealthy, and talented. Although they fare better than others in those things it is never enough to satisfy them. They break their neck trying to keep up with the Jones. They are determined to be king of the hill, top of the heap, better than the rest. And they want the whole world to know it.

God alone has the right to set the standard for goodness and greatness. You don’t have to be like someone else to win His approval. It’s okay to be you – but be your best. – HDS

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

“—-Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”–Genesis 18:25

This is a question that relates to many varied experiences that men go through. There are miseries that seen too heavy to bear and mysteries that are far to hard for us to solve. Numerous things in life seem unfair and unprofitable, and we wonder why and how a loving God would force them on us.

This is a question that should be easy to answer. Since God is righteous, perfect in every way, He cannot but do that which is right. We might not understand it, but we can rest assured that God will never do wrong.

This is a question that implies great truth about God. He is a judge, the Judge,” the Judge of all the earth“! He is not some local deity conjured up in the mind of puny man, nor one of the many gods of this wicked world. He is “the Judge of all the earth”—the One to whom we all are accountable!

This is a question we should remember. Things will happen that will rock your world, cloud your mind, break your heart, and depress your spirit—things you cannot comprehend, change or control. Things happen that prompt us to ask “Why?”, “Why this?”, “Why me?”, “Why now?”. We all experience things that cause pressure to mount–sometimes to the point that we even question God. It’s then that we are in desperate need of remembering who He is—“the Judge of all the earth“. So, who are we to question Him? He has all authority–shall we challenge Him? He has infinite wisdom–should we question Him? He is perfectly holy–dare we accuse Him of being wrong or unfair? He rules “all the earth“–should He not rule over us? He is “the Judge of all the earth“–shall we judge Him?

We have misjudged Him many times before, shall we do it again? Will we never learn? Do not be led astray by your feelings. Simply trust God to do as He has promised. He will never fail you. As someone said, “Wait till the last chapter is written. God hasn’t made His first mistake. When we are able to see things from a clearer perspective, we will realize that the Judge of all the earth has done right”.–HDS

John Oxenham wrote:
“God writes in characters too grand
For our short sight to understand;
We catch but broken strokes, and try
To fathom all the mystery
Of withered hopes, of death, of life,
The endless war, the useless strife,–
But there, with larger, clearer sight,
We shall see this–His way was right.”

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