“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” – Eph. 5:15-17

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Parenting can be frustrating. Sometimes two children raised in the same family turn out very different in character. An example of this is found in this story : “You’ve heard the infamous name of John Wilkes Booth. He assassinated President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. But have you heard about Edwin Booth, John’s eldest brother? Edwin, a well-known actor, was waiting at a Jersey City train station when he saw someone slip and fall off the platform. Edwin quickly grabbed the man’s collar and pulled him to safety—rescuing him from serious injury or death. Who was the man he saved? Abraham Lincoln’s son Robert, a soldier in the Civil War. How ironic that the man who saved Lincoln’s son had a brother who would soon kill the president. One saved a life; one took a life. One chose life; the other chose death.” (Our Daily Bread).

While the debate about nature and nurture goes on and on the sad truth is that many are simply looking for something or someone to blame for their bad behavior. What we need to remember is that we each are responsible for our own decisions. Our conduct is the result of choices we make, and as such we are accountable to God for it.

God has set before us “life and good, and death and evil” (vs. 15). And He commanded us “to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee..”(vs. 16). Then He extends a warning to those who choose to do otherwise, “But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;” (vs. 17). The result of that is this- “ye shall surely perish” (vs. 18). Then comes the challenge – “therefore choose life” (vs. 19).

Even so, you have a choice to make. You can receive Christ as your Lord and Savior and receive eternal life, or you can reject Him and die in your sins – forever separated from God. The correct choice is clear! – HDS

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

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;” –John 8:31

J. R. Miller wrote, “It is not enough to begin; continuance is necessary. Mere enrollment will not make one a scholar; the pupil must continue in the school through all the long course, until he has mastered every branch. One who has observed the course of men for many years, says that success in life depends upon staying power. The reason for failure in most cases–is lack of perseverance. Men get tired and give up. There are thousands who begin to follow Christ–but who, when discouragements come, faint and drop out.To continue in Christ’s word–is to obey  him. We must do it continuously too; not today only–but tomorrow as well, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, unto the end.

There is another way of abiding in the word of Christ. Many of his words are promises. The forests in summer days are full of bird-nests. They are hidden among the leaves. The little birds know where they are; and when a storm arises, or when night draws on, they fly each to his own nest. So the promises of God are hidden in the Bible, like nests in the great forests; and there we should fly in any danger or alarm, hiding there in our soul’s nest until the storm be over and past. There are no castles in this world so impregnable, as the words of Christ.”

Over the years I’ve known many people who started but did not continue. They start but do not stay. Even so, at the beginning of this new year many recognized a need for change in their lives and made a resolution to change. But some failed before the sun set the next day. Rather than resolutions we need repentance, and the proof of that is perseverance. Rather than boasting about what you are going to do, ask others to pray for you that you will carry through on your promises. – HDS

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

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,” – Phil. 3:13

Several years ago I preached a revival meeting in Kansas City, Mo. The pastor had been a student of J. Frank Norris and was greatly influenced by his ministry. The sad thing is that while his church was struggling and dying all he could think about was “how it used to be”. Everyday all week, all I heard was about his mentor, and he couldn’t talk without weeping it seemed. Rather than praying or out witnessing all he wanted to do was to sit and listen to recordings of Norris. He was living in the past, which is a big mistake.

J. R. Miller said, “We ought not to live in the past. No matter how full of blessing and good it is, we may not stay in it. Life is before us, never behind us. If we linger, we shall lose our place, and our fellows will press on and leave us.

The best way to live for tomorrow is to do well the work of today; yet the future should always exert an inspiring influence upon us. In the time of discouragement it is the hope of overcoming that brings cheer.

When we are in sorrow it is the promise of comfort that sustains us. In the task–work of school days it is the thought of what manhood will bring of achievement that inspires the student. In the struggles of earthly life it is the larger life of heaven that keeps the heart brave and strong.”

No one in their right mind would try to drive looking in the rear view mirror. Neither should we try to live always looking back at the past. If we are to get where God would have us to be we must get past the past.- HDS

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