LIVING FOR JESUS
“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:”–Phil. 3:20

When asked what he would do if he knew the Lord was coming today, the old farmer said, “Plow”. What would you say? That farmer felt that was the work to which he was assigned by the Lord, and felt no need to do something else. But what would God have you to do? If you are confused about it just read the Bible. You don’t need to hear an audible voice from heaven telling you what God expects. The Word of God makes the will of God perfectly clear. We have no reason to be confused about the manner in which we ought to live. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”– Phil. 2:13

If I have to change the way I’m living because I think I’m dying then I’m living wrong. I’ve been dying as long as I’ve been living, so everyday should be spent living like I’m dying. As to how I ought to live no one ever said it better than Paul—“For to me to live is Christ..”(Phil. 1:21). That describes a life well lived! That’s God’s intended purpose for every believer and the only wise way to spend one’s life. We live for Christ by living like Christ through Christ who strengthens us ( Phil. 4:13). And doing so results in all our needs being supplied “according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus“( Phil. 4:19). Nothing better could be said of a person than “to live is Christ“. He is the goal, the pattern, the means, and reward.–HDS

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

A REASONABLE RESPONSE
“shine as lights in the world”–Phil. 2:15
I was on a roll recently and couldn’t seem to help myself. Every time I clicked on Facebook I saw something that prompted me to hit “like”, “share”, or “comment”. Finally I decided enough is enough and I got off. However, that experience got me to thinking–“What is a reasonable response to what’s going on in the world?

We live in a fallen world and our beloved nation is coming apart at the seams. Everywhere you look there is corruption, conflict and confusion. You can’t get through a day without feeling the need to protest something. We keep checking off places where we shop because they support things we don’t agree with. We refuse to buy certain products, watch certain networks, use certain services, listen to certain people, support certain causes, etc. because of what they promote. It never ends. We could spend our lives reading and commenting about all the bad stuff in the world. Or we could pack our bags and travel from one protest to another, uniting our voices with other disgruntled people. Or we could ———-? What should we do?

I’m not saying we should just ignore all these things and shrug them off like they are unimportant, but I do believe we ought to use some common sense. While we should stand against sin and separate ourselves from the world, we cannot escape being exposed to its corruption. That’s the point Paul was making when he wrote, ” I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.“(1 Cor. 5:9-10)

We trouble ourselves more than we should by expecting, even demanding, godly behavior from ungodly people. We always seem to go to an extreme. Some become like a monk in a monastery isolating themselves from the world. Others just go with the flow or adopt the ways of the world. But,if we are wise we will maintain a proper balance. We should not be indifferent toward sin, but neither should we be obsessed with protesting it. We have something better to do.

The only cure for the ills of the world is Christ. The only hope for the sinner is to be born again. The only message that can bring salvation is the gospel. And the only work deserving our undivided attention and best effort is delivering the gospel to the world. We must not allow ourselves to get distracted from that—regardless of how good the cause that we are promoting or protesting.

If we are to serve God we must not cut ourselves off from people or else we could never reach folks with the gospel. Although we are not of the world we are in it. What we need is contact without conformity. As salt and light we are to affect those around us without being affected by them. Paul said it well in Phil. 2:15-16, “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.” –HDS

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

LEARNING TO LIVE
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”–Matt. 11:29
J. R. Miller said,  “We have to learn to live—if ever we are to live worthily. No one becomes a fine musician, without much learning. Nor can anyone take a piece of canvas, with palette, paints, and brushes—and at once paint a masterpiece. 

Learning to live beautifully—is harder than learning music or art. We must learn to live—and the lessons are hard, requiring long years of patience and practice. But we ought to learn the art of living, whatever the cost may be!

 

Life is a sacred trust. We are accountable for it to God, who gave it to us. We are required to make the most of our abilities, training them to their best capacity. By self-discipline, we are to get the perfect mastery of our being—and then do the things which we were made to do.

 

Yet many people never seriously try to learn to live! This is unworthy a being endowed with immortality, and sent forth on a divine errand. We should live in a way, which will not shame us when we come to the end”

There is more to being a disciple than just learning about Christ. We are to be servants as well as students. As disciples we are in the school of Christ, where He is both teacher and subject. We are to develop the mind of Christ and devote ourselves to the mission He has given. That alone is a life well lived.–HDS

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

WHEN GOD REFUSES
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.“Rom. 8:26
One of the many mistakes we make is in thinking of Jesus as our servant whose duty is to deliver what we desire, rather than our Sovereign Master who is just in denying our desires. However, we can rest assured that if we are a child of God in the will of God, He will provide what we need although He withholds what we desire.
We want freedom from pain, financial prosperity, family peace, friends who please, and fun, fun, fun. We have high expectations and a low level of patience. But what we have on our wish list isn’t always what God wants and our request is refused. But that doesn’t mean He doesn’t care. Instead of granting what we want He gives us what we need. And sometimes that leaves us scratching our head wondering why and feeling we are deprived.
Blinded by our selfish desires we do not realize that God is doing us a favor. He does so because out of the depths of His wisdom and love He knows that giving us what we want would hurt us rather than help us. Given everything we want we would never become the person God wants us to be. So He withholds one thing that He might bestow another. Let us then, thank God for unanswered prayers and accept what He appoints or allows.–HDS

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

PRESSING ON

“Not as though  I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow  after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended  of Christ Jesus 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, I press toward the mark for the prize of the  high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:12-14

While the dawn of a new year prompts us to think about things we should or desire to do, the passing of the old also reminds us of what we have done–or, as the case may be, haven’t done. In other words, not only do we think about the challenges ahead, we also are reminded of our past failures– thus the resolutions. I guess you could say that is good and bad news. Most of us don’t like to be reminded of our short-comings. Yet the hope of improvement depends on exactly that. There must be a willingness to take a good long hard look at ourselves.

If we break our arm patting ourselves  on the back and refuse to acknowledge that we’ve failed the possibility of progress comes to a screeching halt. When we deceive ourselves into believing all is well, when it isn’t, growth stops. Seeing ourselves as we really are might not be pleasurable, but it is profitable.

A. W. Tozer wrote, “Some Christians hope in a vague kind of way that time will help them to grow better. They look to the passing of the years to mellow them and make them more Christlike. This is such a tender and pathetic thought that one hesitates to expose its essential error. But we had better know the facts now while we can do something about them rather than go on moist-eyed and dreamily hopeful–and wholly wrong. A crooked tree does not straighten with age; neither does a crooked Christian.”

Paul was a wise man. He didn’t pretend to be something he wasn’t. He was honest enough to admit that he had not arrived and humble enough to acknowledge his need to advance. Wherever you are in your spiritual life there is still room for growth. Until that glorious day when we stand in the presence of the Lord in the likeness of the Lord we will have a need to grow. But before it can happen we must admit it needs to happen. Press on my friend! —HDS

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