“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” – Rom. 1:16

Senior Living tells this story that should get our attention and motivate us to tell others of our Savior. One foggy night in London many years ago, a poor man shuffled into a quaint little music shop on the edge of town. Under his right arm, he held an old violin in terrible condition. “My good sir,” the man said to the shopkeeper, “will you please buy this violin from me so I can get something to eat?”

The clerk took a quick look at the instrument and said, “I have many violins, so I can only give you 5 pounds for this one.” The man agreed, and departed with the money into the foggy night.

As the shopkeeper examined the old beat-up violin, he could hardly believe what he saw carved into the wood: “Antonio Stradivari… 1704.” He ran out into the street to find the man and give him a fair price. But he was gone.

Many Christians are a lot like that poor man. They carry with them something of unimaginable value, the gospel, yet have no idea how much it really is worth. But the truth is, for those who are spiritually dying, it’s the most important thing you could ever share with them.

Don’t go throughout your life concealing the power of God and keeping it to yourself. Understand the amazing power you have in the gospel and use it to rescue the lost from a Christless eternity!

Pray that God would open your eyes anew to the gospel’s amazing value so that you’d be more eager to share it with others.

If we focused on our duty half as much as we do on our difficulties and delights we would be a lot better off, and a thousand times more helpful to others. – HDS

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

“Why dost Thou strive against Him?” – Job 33:13

A believer strive against his God! Yes, it is sometimes the case; he may strive against some of the doctrines of His word; or, against some of the dispensations of His providence; or, against some of the commands He has issued. But why dost strive against Him?

His wisdom is infinite. His love is unchangeable. His ways are all righteous. His methods may be mysterious, and His dispensations trying; but His designs are all gracious and good. It is your duty to submit and be still. It is your privilege to believe and trust. It is rebellion and treason to strive against Him, for He giveth not account of any of His matters.

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing. He is not accountable to any. He will not be questioned by the curious, or called to an account by the proud. He demands our acquiescence on the ground of His perfections, promises, and word. He will make all plain and clear to us by and by, and then we shall know as we are known, and be perfectly satisfied. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” “Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord.” – James Smith, 1840

Oh! let me live of Thee possess’d,
In weakness, weariness, and pain!
The anguish of my labouring breast,
The daily cross I still sustain,
For Him that languish’d on the tree,
But lived, before He died for me.

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

” …… who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” – Esther 4:14

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” – Matt. 7:12

So what would we do? Matt. 5:43-48 gives us the answer, at least in part. Vs.44 says, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” Then in vs.45-48 we see how crucial this is. “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” If we expect others to believe that we are a child of God they must see something of the Son of God in us. Until they see Christ in us we will never convince them that we are Christians.

For others, even our own family members, to see Christ in us our love for them must be obvious. We must do for them what we would like for them to do unto us. And, I can assure you that everyone of us would like for others to try to understand us. We want them to be understanding of our circumstances, challenges, condition, complications, and capabilities. Since we are all different, imperfect, and troubled this isn’t always easy. But it is crucial. – HDS

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

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearer”.- Ephesians 4:29

Old Eb was, like many of his breed, rather stingy with words. He said very little, and even when he spoke, it was rather grudgingly. But one evening he was sitting on the front steps with his wife. The long day’s work, the good supper, and the peaceful sights and sounds of dusk must have softened him up a little. So he took his pipe out of his mouth and said, “When I think of what you’ve meant to me all these years, Judith, sometimes it’s almost more than I can stand not to tell you!”

Samuel Butle may have been onto something when he said, “Praise, like gold and diamonds, owes its value to its scarcity.” However, most of us would prefer to err on the side of giving too much praise than too little.

When others think of you, how do you think they would rate you on the amount of praise and encouragement you give them? Are you a force for encouragement in their lives? Or, do you tend to be discouraging as you interact with them?

Today’s Scripture couldn’t be clearer… every Christian should be a force for encouragement in the lives of others. Even in times of disagreement and rebuking, you can still speak to others in an encouraging way, letting them know that you care for them. So when it comes to your dealings with others, always be encouraging and let the love of Christ shine through you.

Pray that God would reveal to you someone who needs a word of comfort today. Then, go encourage them with the love of Christ. – Senior Living

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