“Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.”( Proverbs 3:27) 
 
Every student of the Bible understands that we have an obligation to others. Everyone knows that God expects us to give, and to do the best we can—in abundance when able. We just don’t do it! We usually try to get by giving or doing as little as we can. We totally ignore the principle of going the second mile (Matt.5:41), all the while bragging about being  “Bible believers”. The truth is that we generally do just enough to maintain our “respectability” among others, seeming unconcerned about the sin we commit.
 
Here’s something you might want to think about. When we are able to go the second mile and don’t we are just as guilty as the person who refuses to go the first mile. Disobedience is sin—period. The man who doesn’t tithe at all is no more guilty than the person who is able to tithe and give an offering, but refuses to do the latter. Yet we criticize the one and commend the other–but God condemns both! We aren’t accountable for what we can’t do, but we are accountable for what we could do.
 
What is in your hand–under your control? What will you do with it? We are forced to make a choice. We cannot be neutral. We either obey or we disobey. The choice is ours. We know what it should be, but it remains to be seem what it will be.
 
Remember this–Being average puts you as close to the bottom as it does to the top. You are either the best of the worst or the worst of the best. Either way you are in bad company. God demands and deserves our best. And He discerns whether or not we actually give our best. He is never deceived. Think about this– “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” ( 2 Cor 9:7)– HDS ( 12/7/08, revised)

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

“The memory  of the just is blessed…..”—Prov. 10:7

It started shortly after the Civil War when families of the fallen decorated the graves of their loved ones who died in battle. Today we call it “Memorial Day” and we tend to include all our loved ones who have died. Remembering others is fine, we should do it often, but we need to remember that “Memorial Day” is a day to honor those who died in defense of our country –that was the original intent.

 
From the time it was instituted until now we have enjoyed freedom that was purchased and preserved by the sacrifices of those who served in our armed forces. How could we ever forget the price they paid? How can we fail to be grateful?
 
This day should cause our hearts to overflow with thanksgiving for those who loved liberty more than life, and freedom more than fortune, fame, and fun. Let us then honor these men and women by giving thanks for what they did. May we never forget that freedom isn’t free! So, as you enjoy your freedom, doing whatever you do, be grateful that someone cared enough to make the sacrifice necessary to secure it for you. 
 
As our nation observes Memorial Day, please take time to reflect on what others have provided for you, thank God for His blessings, express in some appropriate way your appreciation, and pray–especially for the families who have suffered the loss of a loved one in the pursuit of freedom.—HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

There is a very strange command found in Ezekiel 46:9. God forbid the people to leave the temple the same way they they came in. Those who entered through the north gate were to exit through the south gate and those who entered through the south gate were to exit through the north gate. Why? No explanation is given. Maybe it was to prevent confusion and congestion. Or, as Matthew Henry wrote, “We may suppose that they came in at the gate that was next their own houses, but, when they went away, God would have them to go out at the gate which would lead them the furthest way about, that they might have time for meditation; being thereby obliged to go a great way round the sanctuary, they might have an opportunity to consider the palaces of it.”
 
Whatever the reasons might be, they were not to leave the same way as they came in. I believe that can serve as a lesson for us.The church has replaced the temple as God’s house of witness and we Christians are warned about “Forsaking the assembling of ourselves together“(Heb. 10:25). We should be faithful in church attendance. We should attend for the purpose of worshipping God and to “provoke” one another “unto love and good works“(Heb. 10:24). And, since none of us are perfect, we should leave God’s house different than when we came. Attendance there should change us for the better.

I’ve often said, when you leave church you always leave in a better or worse condition than when you came. If you hear the Word of God and refuse to obey it you will leave worse than you came. But, if you submit to God’s Word you will be the better for it. Worship should be a transforming experience. So, when you attend church, ask God to change your life. Don’t leave the same way you came! -HDS ( 11/29/08)

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

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”- Gal. 5:22-23

Read that again. Think about each of these nine things. In them we find exactly what we need– what the world needs! Can you imagine what a difference it would make if we all manifested these graces? It would change everything! But how is that possible? Should we start a campaign and crusade for it? Shall we conduct classes and try to teach it? Shall we make a law demanding it? Perhaps we can just find a good example and resolve to follow it. If none of those work, how is it then even possible? Our text gives us the answer.

Notice the source mentioned– “the Spirit“. What we need can only be produced by the Holy Spirit. No amount of education and effort can provide these virtues. Only as believers are filled with the Spirit can they be experienced and expressed. The only way for these things to become a reality in our lives is for us to live under the control of God’s Spirit. He does for us what we could never do for ourselves. And it is amazing! He is the change agent ( 2 Cor. 3:18).

Notice also that this speaks of a cluster- “fruit” singular. It’s not some but all of the nine virtues that make up the “fruit of the Spirit”. If we are truly filled with the Spirit we will possess all of them. Imagine what a difference that would make in our lives and the impact it would have on others. How then can we be satisfied with any less? Why would we think God is satisfied with less? God want us to experience and express all that He has for us– to bear fruit, more fruit, and much fruit. And the only thing standing between us and that is our stubborn selfishness – the desire to do as we please rather than that which pleases God. The Spirit filled life is the norm for Christians, not the exception reserved for only a few super saints. Any Christian can and every Christian should be filled with the Spirit. The good news is that you don’t have to leave your chair for that to happen. It isn’t something we achieve, but something we receive. It is a command (Eph. 5:18) to be obeyed.–HDS

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

“And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.”- Luke 16:22–24

In his biography of Lee Roberson, Always About His Father’s Business James Wigton wrote: “Lee Roberson never lost his burden for souls. In 2004, when he was 95 years of age, he was asked to give the closing prayer at a meeting with the International Board of Jewish Missions in Chattanooga. He walked to the pulpit and declared, ‘I want to say one word—Hell. Men are dying and going to Hell. We must reach them.’ And then with tears streaming down the cheeks of his face, he offered the closing prayer.”

Hell is not the joke that our society makes it out to be. It is not metaphorical, but literal. It is not temporary, but eternal. It is not comfort, but pain. It is not hope, but despair. And Hell is the eternal destination for every person who does not accept Jesus Christ as Saviour. The fact that as Christians we need have no fear of going to that place of torment should not make us complacent. Even people in Hell want to keep others from going there, like the rich man Jesus described. “Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment” (Luke 16:27–28). Yet too often Christians are casual when it comes to warning others about eternity. The reality of Hell should be a constant motivation for us to share the gospel with everyone we can. ( Daily in the Word)

After spending a week with Dr. Roberson, Parker Dailey, and Gene Hankins in 1967 I can tell you that he had burning desire to see folks saved. Although I didn’t agree with him on some things I thank God that he had such a great concern for the lost. May God help us to realize that, even if we are perfectly correct in all our beliefs, without a burden for the unsaved we will fail in our mission.–HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346